Punjab police personnel have deployed to Gilgit-Baltistan to provide security for the Legislative Assembly elections [1].
The mobilization of outside security forces aims to maintain law and order and prevent alleged pre-poll rigging during the voting process [1, 4].
Authorities approved the deployment of 6,000 Punjab police officers [1]. In addition to the provincial force, 150 officers from the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) police were deployed [2]. These ICT officers were scheduled to depart on Thursday, June 6, 2024, and return on June 9, 2024 [2].
The security measures come as the region prepares for the June 7, 2024, Legislative Assembly election [3]. A total of 24 seats are up for grabs in the contest [4].
Election data shows that 403 candidates are contesting the seats [6]. There are 963,000 registered voters expected to participate in the process [5]. The heavy police presence is intended to ensure the stability of the polling environment across the region.
The deployment reflects the scale of the security operation required to manage the high number of candidates and the geographical challenges of Gilgit-Baltistan. By utilizing both provincial and ICT resources, the government seeks to create a neutral security perimeter around the 24 contested seats [4].
“Punjab police approved the deployment of 6,000 officers.”
The deployment of thousands of police officers from outside Gilgit-Baltistan suggests a high level of concern regarding electoral integrity and potential volatility. By bringing in personnel from Punjab and the ICT, the administration is attempting to mitigate local biases and provide a security layer capable of managing nearly one million registered voters and over 400 candidates.
