The Election Commission of Pakistan on Sunday asked for the deployment of army and law enforcement agencies at the polling stations citing a shortage of police personnel.

According to a letter by the ECP Secretary Omar Hamid Khan, the ECP indicated the shortage of 277,558 police personnel across the country during the upcoming general elections set for February 8 next year.

Secretary Khan sought the services of the Pakistan Army and LEAs in static mode at the polling stations to ensure smooth elections.

“This is all the more relevant in the context of fragile security cum law and order situation prevalent in country,” he said in the letter sent to the ministry of interior.

The ECP urged the ministry to ensure the availability of Pak Army and Civil Armed Forces (CAFs) both in static and in quick response force (QRF) mode to fill the shortage of security personnel during the elections.

“While the ECP takes all necessary steps to organise an election in accordance with the Constitution and the relevant Election Laws, it also expects the same commitment from the executive authorities and law enforcement agencies to maintain law and order in the area of the constituencies during the conduct of elections,” the ECP secretary said.