Elections 2024: ECP issues code of conduct for armed forces

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission has issued a code of conduct for the armed forces during the upcoming elections scheduled for February 8.

The ECP on Thursday issued a notification regarding the deployment of the army and civil armed forces in the elections.

According to the notification, the armed forces will assist the ECP during the elections under Article 245, while the police will be responsible for security.

The civil armed forces and the armed forces will handle the secondary and tertiary levels of security. The deployment of the armed forces will only occur outside highly sensitive polling stations.

The notification said that the civil armed forces will be engaged in security during the printing of ballot papers, and the armed forces will be responsible for delivering ballot papers to the offices of the DROs. After the counting of votes, the armed forces will transport electoral material to the office of the RO, it said.

According to the notification, the armed forces will assist the staff in maintaining a peaceful electoral environment. They will remain unbiased, refraining from supporting or opposing any political party.

According to the notification, the armed forces will collaborate with the police officers to identify suspicious individuals according to the code of conduct.

It said that in case of any mismanagement, the armed forces will inform the presiding officer. Authorized commentators and media personnel will be allowed to enter the polling stations.

Explosive materials and weapons will not be permitted inside the polling station, it said.

The armed forces will not take over the responsibilities of the electoral staff, and they will not handle any electoral material in transfer, including form 45.

According to the notification, the armed forces will not interfere with the work of the presiding officer, polling agent, and ROs.

According to the notification, if there is any disorder outside the polling station, the armed forces will not take direct action but will bring the matter to the notice of the presiding officer.

It said that the army will be deployed as a quick response force outside sensitive polling stations from February 5 to February 10.

The deployment of the army aims to ensure transparent and peaceful elections, it said.

The federal cabinet earlier approved the deployment of the army during the election.