The Election Commission of Pakistan has decided to deploy army and rangers personnel outside the polling stations in the by-election for Karachi’s NA-245 constituency.

The election body in its meeting in Islamabad on Tuesday also decided to deploy the army and rangers personnel outside polling stations in the second phase of the local body elections in Sindh.

The decision was taken against the backdrop of violence during the recent NA-240 by-election in Karachi and the first phase of local government elections in 14 districts of Sindh.

Earlier, the ECP had written a letter to the defence secretary seeking the deployment of the army to prevent any untoward situation due to the law and order situation.

The election commission had asked to deploy the army from July 26 to 28. The polling for the by-elections is scheduled for July 27.

Earlier this month, the ECP had issued the schedule for NA-245, which fell vacant after the death of PTI MNA Aamir Liaquat Hussain.

During today’s meeting, the Chief Election Commission Sikandar Sultan Raja took notice of the allotment of wrong election symbols and directed to point out the officials responsible for it within three days.

The secretary of the election commission informed the meeting that 25 FIRs have been registered against the officials.