By Michael Georgy
ISLAMABAD, May 9 (Reuters) – Pakistan’s military said on
Thursday it will send tens of thousands of troops to polling
stations and counting centres to prevent the Taliban from
disrupting Saturday’s election after the insurgent group’s
attacks in the campaign killed over 100 people.
The election, already Pakistan’s most violent, marks the
first time that a civilian government will complete a full term
and hand over to another administration.
The Taliban says it regards the elections as un-Islamic and
its attacks have prevented candidates from the three main
parties from holding large rallies. Instead they have relied on
door-to-door campaigning or small meetings in private homes or
on street corners.
Army spokesman Major General Asim Bajwa said 300,000
security officials, including 32,000 troops, have been deployed
in Punjab, the most populous province.
“Definitely they (intelligence agencies) have reports and
obviously they have made a plan to counter that,” he said,
referring to security threats from the Taliban.
Another 96,000 security forces would be deployed in the
northwest of Pakistan, where the Taliban operate from
strongholds.
Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who is calling on
Pakistan to reconsider its support for the U.S. war on Islamist
militancy and wants to introduce free-market economics, is seen
as the frontrunner in the election race.
His Pakistan Muslim League (PMLN) has capitalised on
widespread frustrations with the outgoing government led by the
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).
The military has ruled Pakistan for more than half of its
66-year history, either through coups or from behind the scenes.
(Created by Michael Georgy; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
