ISLAMABAD:
With general elections scheduled for Sunday in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), large-scale security measures are being put in place, including the deployment of thousands of police personnel from Punjab and the federal capital.
According to officials, apart from the 6,000 personnel of the Punjab Police, 150 policemen from the security division of the Islamabad Capital Territory Police have been assigned to election duties in Britain. In total, around 2,000 people are expected to be dispatched to the region to provide security during the vote.
The 150 ICT police officers selected for this mission were carrying out sensitive missions in the federal capital, including surveillance of prominent installations and escorting foreign delegations. These personnel will leave for Britain on Thursday under tight security conditions and are expected to return to Islamabad on June 9.
The distribution of deployed IT personnel shows that 30 officials were selected in the Special Protection Unit, five in the President’s House, 20 in the Prime Minister’s House, six in the Prime Minister’s Office, ten in the security function of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and another ten in the high security zone.
The Islamabad Police Security Division is responsible for guarding key installations including the President House, Prime Minister House, Parliament, police lines, Special Services Group (SSG) lines and the district court complex, while also providing security to foreign delegations and Chinese nationals.
Meanwhile, convoys carrying Punjab Police personnel have already started from Rawalpindi and Lahore. These convoys are escorted by armed police and accompanied by Rescue 1122 ambulances to ensure safe transport to the mountainous region.
However, this deployment attracted criticism from the opposition. Information on PPP Secretary Nadeem Afzal Chan has raised concerns over the presence of Punjab Police in GB and the alleged involvement of federal and Punjab ministers in the PML-N’s election campaign.
He noted that the Punjab Police must not forget that they operate in Gilgit-Baltistan, warning that a “Punjab-style attitude” would not be acceptable in the sensitive region. He stressed that local people must be treated with respect and responsibility given the sensitive nature of the region.
Chan also questioned the role of the Election Commission of Pakistan, asking on what basis federal and provincial ministers were allowed to participate in election campaigns and public rallies.
