Security Preparedness: Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti assures readiness for peaceful general elections while acknowledging terrorist threats to political leaders.- Terrorist Threats: Specific alert for JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman; general threat to political figures during public rallies and gatherings.
- History of Attacks: References historical instances of political leaders, including Shaukat Aziz, Benazir Bhutto, Nawab Sanaullah Zehri, and Mir Siraj Khan Raisani, being targeted during election campaigns.
- Vulnerability of Political Leaders: Acknowledges the challenge of terrorism during public appearances but notes reluctance among political figures to limit engagement with the electorate.
- Election Security: Interior Minister refrains from indicating the army’s availability for poll-related security but assures deployment of civil armed forces to meet ECP requirements.
- ECP’s Request: ECP writes to the interior ministry seeking army and civil armed forces deployment outside polling stations and a quick response force.
- Paramilitary Forces: Paramilitary forces, including Rangers and FC Balochistan, are engaged in various operations, making their availability for election duties challenging.
- Deportation of Foreigners: Emphasizes deportation of foreigners, including Afghans, engaged in political activities; clarifies that politics in Pakistan is solely for its citizens.
- Deportation Drive: Over 482,000 illegal Afghan immigrants have left the country through various borders; emphasis on deportation of all foreigners involved in political activities.
- Identity Theft Inquiry: Inquiry underway into reports of Afghanistan’s interior minister holding a Pakistani passport until recently; commitment to bring those involved in identity theft to justice.
Source: Dawn – December 9, 2023