ISLAMABAD (Republic policy) – The Pakistan army’s General Headquarters (GHQ) has excused itself from providing troops for the security of elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by-polls and some National Assembly seats, citing the ongoing wave of terrorism in the country.
The Ministry of Interior has conveyed the unavailability of troops for the election duties in a letter to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). The top electoral body has announced by-elections on NA seats in March, while a schedule for polls in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is expected to be announced in the coming days as the ECP is bound to hold polls within 90 days of the dissolution of the assemblies.
In the letter, the ministry said threat alerts were being issued by the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta) and intelligence agencies, adding that Pakistan witnessed some terror incidents that claimed several lives in the recent past.
