ISLAMABAD, Aug 13: There has been no decision to deploy troops in Attock and Tharparker to maintain peace during the bye- elections but they have been put on high alert to come to the aid of civilian authorities, if needed , the Election Commission declared here on Friday.

Following a statement issued by the ARD chairman and the president of Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians (PPP), Makhdoom Amin Fahim, that troops were being deployed to facilitate the election of a candidate of the ruling party, Chief Election Commissioner, Justice (retired) Irshad Hasan Khan, held a meeting at the Election Commission of Pakistan.

Later, the commission, in a statement, refuted the statement of Mr Fahim. A news to this effect had also been carried in a section of press. The commission, according to the official press release, expressed the view that it was true that maintenance of law and order was the exclusive responsibility of the provincial governments.

"The governments in the Punjab and Sindh are responsible to make fool-proof security arrangements during the forthcoming bye- elections," it added. "Under the Constitution and the law, however, the armed forces, subject to law, can be called to act in aid of civil power when so required for the maintenance of law and order."

In this connection, the commission referred to Article 20 of the Constitution which also specifically provides that it shall be the duty of all the executive authorities in the federation and in the provinces to assist the chief election commissioner and the Election Commission in the discharge of their functions.