PPP stalwart Raza Rabbani on Saturday thundered at the Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) "criminal silence" over perceived irregularities in the run-up to the polls, warning of "dire consequences" for the government if the elections are "engineered".
The former Senate chairman drew the watchdog's attention to a series of incidents.
" At first, the ECP kept saying that soldiers would be deployed outside polling stations. Now it's saying they will be also be deployed inside. What is the reason for their being stationed inside?"
"Under what law has the ECP permitted banned groups to contest elections."
"The two major parties of the country are being targeted. Is the ECP sleeping?" — Raza Rabbani
Meanwhile, the army's media wing tweeted that the ECP has requisitioned the armed forces to assist them in the elections under Articles 220 and 245. Accompanying the tweet is a video that elaborates on the armed forces' responsibilities for the elections.