Pakistan deployed more than 2100 security personnel before PoK elections, Awami Committee alleged rigging

Mirpur (PoK): Pakistan has deployed around 2100 army personnel amid the assembly elections in Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoK). This deployment has been done with multiple layers of police and other security forces.

According to Dawn, the first layer of security system includes Police, Pakistan Rangers (Punjab), Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) and Federal Constabulary. Pakistan Army is deployed in the second layer and other security forces are deployed in the third layer.

According to reports, around 2100 army personnel will also be deployed, while Quick Response Force teams will be ready to deal with any emergency. Apart from this, 18,560 personnel of police and other law enforcement agencies have also been deployed.

Meanwhile, the Joint Awami Action Committee has alleged serious irregularities in the first phase of voting. The committee said through a social media post that signs of rigging and irregularities are visible even before the elections in Mirpur division.

The committee alleged that polling was to begin at 8 am at many polling stations in Kotli, but even at 10 am, polling did not begin at many places and voters were not seen casting their votes. The committee declared Kotli completely closed.

According to Arab News, the Joint Awami Action Committee has boycotted the elections and demanded the abolition of 12 seats reserved for refugees. The PoK unit of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf termed the elections as a sham and said that people have rejected the voting.

JAAC had released its charter of demands in June, which included ending the privileges of the ruling establishment, ending reserved assembly seats for Pakistan-based refugees, free healthcare and equal education, setting up of an international airport and ending employment quota.