In a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Shahid Ashraf Tarar, Temporary Minister for Communications, Railways, and Maritime Affairs, is designated as the committee’s leader. The interior secretary, four provincial chief secretaries, and other co-opted members will join the committee.
The PMO notification outlines the committee’s responsibilities, which include supervising election security arrangements, addressing administrative issues, ensuring coordination for a seamless election process, issuing directives for extra security needs to maintain law and order, and implementing Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) directives.
The committee secretariat will be housed in the Ministry of Interior’s National Crisis Management Cell. With just three weeks until the elections on February 8, concerns persist regarding pre-election manipulation and security challenges.
Over 5,000 paramilitary Frontier Constabulary forces are set to deploy to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the first week of February. Recent violent incidents in the province highlight a deteriorating security situation, prompting additional police deployments at polling stations on election day.
Despite acknowledged threats, top government and security officials assured the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) of their readiness to conduct general elections. The Chief Election Commissioner, Sikandar Sultan Raja, chaired a meeting focusing on peace and order preparations, ensuring all necessary measures are in place.
Former Interior Minister Sarfraz Ahmad Bugti previously pledged comprehensive protection for the ECP to conduct peaceful general elections.
