As the country gears up for the upcoming general elections on February 8, soldiers from the Pakistan Army have begun arriving in major cities to ensure the polls’ peaceful conduct. The Punjab Home Department has confirmed the deployment of troops in cities like Lahore, Kasur, and Sheikhupura, with plans for additional reinforcements in districts such as Mandi Bahauddin, Chakwal, Jhelum, and Sargodha by tomorrow.
These soldiers, dispatched from garrisons in Lahore, Multan, Okara, Bahawalpur, and Gujranwala, are collaborating with the civil government to uphold law and order during the elections. Security measures include the installation of CCTV cameras at sensitive polling stations to increase transparency.
Positioned outside polling stations as part of the third security tier, the military personnel aim to prevent potential violence and boost voter confidence. While such deployments are not uncommon in previous elections, concerns have been raised about the possible militarization of the electoral process.
