February 11, 2008	Monday	Safar 03, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Feb 10: The city administration has sought assistance of the army to provide security and control law and order situation during the forthcoming general elections, sources told Dawn here on Sunday.

The sources said the administration had requested six companies of the Pakistan Army to assist other law-enforcement agencies.

The army’s help is being sought only to deal with emergency situations and to strengthen the other law-enforcement agencies, the sources said, adding that after arriving in the capital, the troops would remain on standby.

The army will only be brought on the roads and deployed in the city in case of any untoward incident, disturbance or law and order situation, they added.

There is a possibility that army personnel along with the other law-enforcement agencies are deployed at the polling stations in the capital, but the decision in this regard is yet to be made, the sources said.

A joint meeting of the army, Rangers and the city police is likely to be held soon to chalk out and discuses security plan for general elections. Two wings of the Rangers are already present in the capital.

And the Rangers’ personnel along with city police are deployed in different areas of Islamabad, including Constitution Avenue and at some entry points into the city.

In normal circumstances during the elections, the city police will be assisted by the Rangers to maintain security and control law and order situation. The Rangers will also be deployed at the polling stations, the sources said.

The capital has already been divided into two zones, east and west. About 20 polling stations, majority of them in the rural areas, have been declared sensitive.

Staff Reporter adds from Pindi: The Punjab government has decided to form a special police force comprising 50,000 army, paramilitary and retired police personnel to maintain law and order during the upcoming national elections, Dawn has learnt.

Sources said the deployment of special police force would be for ten days only, starting from February 10.

For this purpose, the government has approved Rs40 million.