THE campaigns are now over and tomorrow the country will vote in a historic but controversial election.

From a security perspective, polling day is undeniably a mammoth responsibility. More than 100m citizens eligible to vote in simultaneous national and provincial elections is an administrative exercise that is vast and with few comparisons across the democratic world.

But the inherent complexities of securing the polling process have been compounded by a spate of terror attacks that has indelibly marred the campaign phase.

The assassination of Ikramullah Gandapur, a PTI candidate for the provincial assembly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the failed attempt on JUI-F leader Akram Durrani should not be dismissed as two more incidents of militant violence.

While the carnage in Peshawar and Mastung — and the sheer loss of life in those attacks — against Haroon Bilour and Siraj Raisani were on a different order of magnitude, the assassination of Gandapur and the attack on Mr Durrani suggest that militants still have the capacity to select their targets seemingly at will.

Mastung bombing: 128 dead, over 200 injured in deadliest attack since APS, IS claims responsibility

The threats faced by candidates and voters are not solely from organised and entrenched militant networks.

For example, the threats of violence against Jibran Nasir, an independent candidate from Karachi, by religious extremists suggest that the democratic project is under attack on multiple fronts.

The space to advocate the politics of tolerance and inclusivity and reject extremism and hate appears to have further shrunk, and there is a possibility that far right religious groups may make historic gains in parliament on July 25.

A vast and unprecedented security net is to be thrown around the polling process across the country. If the net is to be effective, it will require immense cooperation across the many different security organisations and institutions that have been assigned duties to protect the polling process.

It is hoped that security coordination will be effective and respectful, and that the caretaker governments and the ECP will be assertive in carrying out the constitutional responsibilities assigned to them.

Despite the political controversies and militant violence that have blighted this election season, the state should put its best foot forward in the polling phase and demonstrate to the people that their fundamental right to choose who represents them in government can be secured.

As to the future, lessons from yet another bloody campaign season will have to be learned. A comprehensive security plan to secure all phases of the election from violence surely needs to be drawn up in advance with input from all relevant institutions.

A consensus approach would have the benefit in minimising disruptions and adverse executive or judicial orders.

In 2018, the necessary focus needed on security was impeded by valid but ill-timed concerns about VIP culture in security assignments and political controversies that beset state institutions. On polling day, a firm focus on security will be needed.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2018