COAS directs army to 'assist ECP strictly within bounds of given mandate'

 Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa Thursday directed the army to "assist the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) strictly within the bounds of given mandate" for the conduct of General Election 2018, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

The COAS said so during his visit to the Army Elections Support Center, Rawalpindi on Thursday.

During the visit, General Bajwa was given a detailed briefing about plan for provision of assistance to the ECP for free, fair and transparent conduct of forthcoming elections.

"The COAS directed that Army shall assist [the] ECP strictly within the bounds of given mandate and as per [the] ECP's code of conduct," the ISPR said in a statement.

The army chief said that working in synchronisation with other elements of security apparatus, all efforts be put in to ensure secure and safe environment, enabling people of Pakistan to freely exercise their democratic right.

The ECP has decided to deploy army personnel inside and around polling stations to ensure security during the polls.

The general election is scheduled in the country for July 25, for which electioneering by political parties has been in full swing.