ECP announces deployment of Rangers in Punjab by-polls

E-Paper | April 27, 2026

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has decided to deploy Pakistan Rangers Punjab in the upcoming bye-elections in NA-122, NA-144, NA-154, PP-147 and PP-16 constituencies of Punjab, said a press release issued on Monday.

The by-polls in NA-122 Lahore-V, NA-144 Okara-II, NA-154 Lodhran-I, PP-147 Lahore-XI constituencies are scheduled to be held on October 11 and on October 6 in PP-16 Attock-II.

According to the ECP handout, the decision was taken by the commission in view of the volatile law and order situation in the country as well as demands of Provincial Election Commissioner Punjab, District Returning Officers, Returning Officers and the political parties.

The ECP also sent letters to the Secretary Ministry of Interior, Secretary Ministry of Defence and the Government of Pakistan asking them to issue necessary directions for deployment of sufficient strength of Rangers personnel for the said constituencies under intimation to ECP.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Punjab (PTI) organiser Chaudhry Sarwar earlier demanded the deployment of Rangers in upcoming by-polls in the province saying that free, fair and transparent by-polls in Punjab are out of question without direct supervision of the electoral exercise by the Pakistan Army and Rangers, Dawn newspaper reported.

Previously, Punjab election commission's tribunal had ordered re-polling in National Assembly constituency, NA-122, declaring the election in the constituency null and void – accepting Imran Khan's petition challenging the 2013 election result in which Sardar Ayaz Sadiq had emerged victorious.

Later, the tribunal had also announced its verdict in favour of Jahangir Tareen over a petition filed by the former secretary general of PTI against alleged rigging in NA-154 (Lodhran).

The tribunal deseated Pakistan Muslim League—Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Muhammad Siddique Khan Baloch and ordered re-election in the constituency.

The NA-144 seat fell vacant when an election tribunal de-seated PML-N MNA Muhammad Arif Chaudhry in August for holding a fake degree.

The tribunal also set aside the election of Mohsin Latif — a nephew of Kulsoom Nawaz — who was elected from PP-147 constituency.

The PP-16 seat fell vacant after the killing of Punjab home minister Shuja Khanzada in a suicide attack on Aug 16.

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Jalbani Baloch

Sep 28, 2015 03:32pm

Mr. IK, this is the time to make sure that polling is not rigged and it is held in a free, fair and transparent manner. Don't be afraid of defeat, and you only advocate for use of ballot in an honest way, so that the people may have the chance to elect right people.

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Shafiq khan

Sep 28, 2015 03:35pm

Not the right solution. It is not the Army's job, it is the Police job. Yes it is right to ask the Army to help, but not before sacking the chief of the Police who can not do his job to your satisfaction. Send him home and then deploy the Army. By not sacking the chief of Police you are encouraging inefficiency in the Police.

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Pakistani

Sep 28, 2015 03:43pm

@Jalbani Baloch IK is never ever afraid of defeat. That is why he advocates for monitoring of elections. No matter who win, it wont effect IK. He does not have factories or big mansions. It is Zardari and Nawaz who are buying properties outside Pakistan not IK. IK says that you actually lose not when your opponent wins, but when you stop trying to win. Get my point?

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Nisar Ahmad

Sep 28, 2015 03:52pm

Rangers or army it does not matter to party like PTI. If they won IK will claim elections fair and his popularity. If lost there will be immediate blame of rigging. When we will mature, the leadership behavior of PTI is childish.

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Sep 28, 2015 04:06pm

This is the power of real opposition.

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Jalbani Baloch

Sep 28, 2015 04:21pm

@Pakistani: Absolutely right. I also sympathize with IK.

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Asgher Ali

Sep 28, 2015 04:41pm

I know that the Rangers are doing an excellent job. My question is what is the police force doing besides collecting the bribes?

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Dilectus

Sep 28, 2015 04:46pm

@Nisar Ahmad - Asking for free and fair elections is childish? If that is childish then I would accept that childish behavior of a party any day of the week over a so called "mature" PML-N which is involved in mega corruption of Nandipur, LNG, BISP, Sasti roti scams. Free and fair elections will strengthen Pakistan and mega corruption is weakening Pakistan.

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Mohammad Akhtar

Sep 28, 2015 05:08pm

Its good for developing democracy to have fair elections. PTI should still keep eye on riggers even with the presence of Rangers they will find some kind of new way to Rig.

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Mohammad Akhtar

Sep 28, 2015 05:11pm

@Shafiq khan Mr. Khan who will send Police home if they are helping rigging.

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Sep 28, 2015 05:22pm

Do not take serious anti-PTI comments, its PML-N media team who put such comments to demoralize and misguide the readers.

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Waheed Khan

Sep 28, 2015 05:24pm

This is one of the best steps that the ECP has taken, we have to remember that the election is a process---- it should be clean, free and fair. It should reflect the will of people as to what kind of leadership they desire. A few more clean elections will remove all the bad leadership from the country, the wisdom of the crowd is never wrong.

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Gaz

Sep 28, 2015 05:26pm

@Asgher Ali the answer to your questions is that the police do nothing apart from collecting bribes so best thing is keep them away from areas where they can collect more bribes.

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Poll Observer

Sep 28, 2015 05:42pm

To prevent dhandli I would advise all parties to withdraw their candidates in favor of PTI to ensure free and fair polls.

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Poleman

Sep 28, 2015 06:14pm

Rangers will always support PML-N mark my words.

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Shah

Sep 28, 2015 06:52pm

@Shafiq khan Deploying Rangers is the right solution. Punjab police is under Chief minister of Punjab and listen to him (There will be no transparency), and we have learned from the past. Punjab Police have failed previously and they will fail again.

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Haque Parast

Sep 28, 2015 08:12pm

NA-246 were conducted under strict Rangers' supervision. We all remember very well who won and who was caught red handed rigging and helping which party.

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Azhar Malik

Sep 28, 2015 08:41pm

@Pakistani yes I agree that Imran Khan is not afraid of defeat in the election and so are the other politicians who take part in the election.JI is also not afraid of defeat although they are contesting elections for the last half a century and facing defeats. Can u please tell me why IK is still repeating rigging charges when JC rejected all his charges in its report and comprehensively rejected his allegations. Did not he say openly that he will accept JC decision whatever it will be. So he should now behave like a bold leader and never say that 2013 elections were rigged.

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Qamar

Sep 28, 2015 09:19pm

If we need Rangers and Army whenever something needs to be done right, then for what good is civilian bureaucracy and police?

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Taimur tareen

Sep 28, 2015 10:03pm

@Nisar Ahmad. Did IK not accept defeat in Karachi vs MQM candidate? Plz have guts to tell the truth. I wish Pakistanis start telling the truth. It will be in their own interest. Food for thought!

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Shehzad Zafar

Sep 28, 2015 10:28pm

So now rigging will take place by army and their rangers instead of police and other agencies. I hope PTI can win this time ??

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asad LATEEF

Sep 28, 2015 10:37pm

@Dilectus what proofs you have that magma corruption took place in nadipur and LPG.just media propergada,just like 35 puntures.

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Nisar Ahmad

Sep 28, 2015 10:43pm

@Taimur tareen ! Note that PTI is going to taste another sweet defeat in all by pols, not due to any great achievements of PML-N,but due to childish attitude of leadership. IK leader of burger groups is more an acrobatic character then a serious leader. Where are proofs of rigging by CJ,Geo,35 puncture, Brigadier,EC,etc and his claims were thrown away by JC.But JT and Aleem have lot of money to support IK and buy votes,solace for PTI.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Sep 28, 2015 10:50pm

What else can it do?

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Sleepless in Sahiwal

Sep 29, 2015 01:12am

@Pakistani Hiding behind internet and accusing everyone under the sun of corruption is easy and you are definitely living up to your name. So, you know everything that who is doing what, right? Why dont you do this nation a favor and file a petition and get the looted money out?

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Hindutavi Rakshas

Sep 29, 2015 03:47am

Well I don't think there will be free of rigging these election as administrator is almost the same It's just a hogwash to forget the massive rigging of 2013 general election after failed dharma attempt by two parties with out any conclusive results Now this is the lollypop.

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obivankanobi

Sep 29, 2015 03:27pm

Its high time Pakistan went in for EVMs. Ballot box theft and vote rigging will be completely eliminated. india would gladly part with the technology of the production of these machines but I guess its too much to ask in the everlasting hostile relationship.

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