BFF-75 Military fans out across Pakistan ahead of election

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PAKISTAN-ELECTION-MILITARY-POLITICS

Military fans out across Pakistan ahead of election

ISLAMABAD, July 24, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Pakistan’s military fanned out across
the country ahead of Wednesday’s election, deploying hundreds of thousands of
troops to oversee polling stations in a short but acrimonious contest that
analysts say is still “up for grabs”.

Armed soldiers watched closely as election officials in the capital
Islamabad Tuesday distributed ballot boxes and voting materials for polling
stations across the city.

“With the grace of God, we want to see a peaceful election tomorrow,”
Election Commission secretary Babar Yaqoob told media, but warned that there
were security challenges and threats.

The military has stationed over 370,000 personnel nationwide to ensure the
vote goes smoothly — the largest such deployment in Pakistan’s history on an
election day. It has said the soldiers will work with local law enforcement
to ensure “a safe and secure environment” for voting.

An additional 450,000 police have also been assigned to provide security,
according to election officials.

The mammoth deployment coupled with a recent decision by election
authorities to grant military officers broad powers inside polling centres
has stirred fears of possible manipulation.

The military presence is just the latest controversy in a bitter campaign
season that has seen accusations of “pre-poll rigging”, the expansion of
hardline religious parties, and a string of bloody militant attacks that have
killed more than 180 people, including three candidates.

Despite the controversies and bloodshed, political parties continued to
criss-cross the country in the final days before the polls, holding dozens of
rallies in key battleground areas.

The contest has largely been distilled to a two-party fight between jailed
former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s incumbent Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz
party, and cricket legend Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.

“Our predictions are very murky right now,” Bilal Gilani, executive
director of Gallup Pakistan, told AFP, adding that a huge chunk of voters
remain undecided.

“It’s still up for grabs.”

– ‘We will fight’ –

At a distribution centre in Lahore, election workers complained of general
discord and delays in the delivery of ballot boxes.

“I have been performing election duty for the past 22 years and I have
never seen such a disorganised election my whole life,” said one worker who
asked to remain anonymous, adding that the troops overseeing the process had
done little to help.

A day before the polls, voters were largely split in Lahore, the capital of
Punjab — Pakistan’s most populous province and long a PML-N stronghold that
is now being fiercely challenged by Khan’s PTI.

“I am supporting Imran Khan because he is the best choice for Pakistan. We
should give him a chance,” said Muhammad Wasim, 32, pointing to what he
described as the success Khan’s party has had in governing northwestern
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.

Others cited the improvements in infrastructure under the PML-N in the
sprawling eastern city, vowing to stick by the party hit by several
corruption convictions ahead of the election.

“They have served the masses, they have put an end to… (power cuts) and
given us better facilities including roads, transport and education,” said
shopkeeper Muhammad Nawaz, 45.

Political parties held their final rallies Monday night — before
campaigning was suspended — in a last-ditch attempt to energise voters.

“I am giving this task to all of you: wake up early on the 25th and cast
your vote,” Khan told thousands of PTI faithful in Lahore.

In southern Punjab, PML-N leader Shahbaz Sharif — the former premier’s
brother — said victory was “certain”.

“Despite all the odds, PML-N is winning the July 25 polls,” he was quoted
as saying by Pakistani media.

The PML-N has accused the powerful military, the country’s most powerful
institution, of manipulating candidates and the media ahead of the vote in a
bid to push out the party and install a pliant government, with Khan seen as
the likely beneficiary.

Activists and think tanks have also widely decried a “silent coup” by
Pakistan’s generals.

At a PML-N rally in the military garrison city of Rawalpindi, anger
simmered over what participants said was engineering by “the establishment” –
– referring to the military.

Some vowed to take to the streets if directed by their leaders.

“After the election, we will fight,” said PML-N supporter Aftab Anjum, 67.

“We are all ready.”

BSS/AFP/MRI/2317 hrs