RAWALPINDI: After the Punjab government approved the deployment of 14,000 police personnel to assist the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Police in election security, the contingent began departing on Saturday.

Of the 14,000 personnel, 5,100 have been provided by 25 districts across Punjab, including Attock and Jhelum. Another 5,000 personnel have been drawn from the Punjab Highway Patrol (PHP), 3,000 from the Riot Management Police (RMP) and 900 from the Punjab Constabulary (PC).

The force provided by Punjab includes 15 senior superintendents of police (SSPs) and 48 deputy superintendents of police (DSPs), including one DSP from Rawalpindi district.

Of the 5,100 personnel contributed by the districts, Lahore has provided 1,550, Sheikhupura 140, Nankana Sahib 100, Kasur 110, Gujranwala 250, Mandi Bahauddin 100, Hafizabad 100, Attock 100, Jhelum 100, Faisalabad 300, Jhang 120, Sahiwal 200, Multan 300 and Vehari, Khanewal and Muzaffargarh 150 each.

The deployed personnel will be equipped accordingly, with 30 per cent carrying weapons and the remaining 70pc carrying anti-riot equipment.

All personnel have been directed to carry the necessary clothing and bedding, along with their departmental identity cards. In each bus, personnel carrying weapons will be specifically designated and will be responsible for security during transit.

In line with the directives of the Punjab police chief, the allocated force has been instructed to assemble at the police lines of the respective regional headquarters before being transported to AJK.

Transportation from the regional headquarters to AJK will be arranged by the AJK Police.

However, a large number of armed PHP personnel travelling from Rahim Yar Khan for election duty were reportedly made to travel on the rooftops of Punjab Police buses, putting their lives at risk.

PHP officials have urged the Punjab inspector general of police (IGP) and senior PHP authorities to take notice of what they described as irresponsible travel arrangements and ensure safer transportation for personnel, a police official said.

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2026