PM directs to beef up security arrangements across country

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Justice (retd) Nasir-ul-Mulk has directed interior ministry to issue instructions to the provincial governments for beefing up security arrangements across the country.

He was chairing a meeting here at the PM Office to review overall law and order situation in the country in the wake of upcoming general election.

The prime minister also decided to visit all the provinces to review security arrangements in place for peaceful and smooth conduct of the upcoming general election.

The meeting was attended by Interior Minister Muhammad Azam Khan, Minister for Law Syed Ali Zafar, Secretary to PM Suhail Aamir, Secretary Interior Yousaf Naseem Khokhar, Director General Intelligence Bureau Ihsan Ghani, National Coordinator NACTA Dr Muhammad Suleman, Additional Secretary to PM Kazim Niaz and other senior government officials.

The prime minister further directed that local administration/ law enforcement agencies should contact political leadership so as to apprise them regarding security arrangements being made by the government and seek their cooperation to avoid happening of untoward incidents.

Couple of days ago, Director General Inter Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Major-General Asif Ghafoor had said the military will be involved in the election entirely in a support role and act on orders of the Election Commission of Pakistan to help them in terms of security.”

“The army has no direct role in holding elections and will only support the electoral process. ”

The military spokesperson said the army had been given election-related six responsibilities under Article 220 and 245 of the Constitution. Underlining army’s role, he said it was not the first time that troops would be deployed to supervise the election process. “The armed forces have rendered services during previous elections as well,” he added.