CEC seeks Rangers' deployment at 'sensitive constituencies' during by-polls in Punjab, Sindh.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja on Thursday wrote a letter to Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, seeking deployment of Rangers in six "sensitive" constituencies of Punjab and Sindh for the upcoming by-elections.

In the letter, the CEC sought deployment of Rangers in four constituencies in Lahore, one in Multan and also in Karachi's NA-245. The NA 245 by-election is scheduled for July 27 whereas the by-elections in Punjab will take place on July 17.

Raja also sought deployment of the Quick Response Force (QRF) for 15 other constituencies in Punjab to avoid any "untoward situation".

In the letter, CEC Raja noted that the atmosphere in the 20 Punjab constituencies was "politically charged". "Certain political leaders are raising the emotions of their workers/supporters," he said.

He said that in such a situation, police alone would not be able to provide a conducive environment to conduct elections in a free, fair and peaceful manner.

CEC Raja said the Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) experience with the NA-240 by-election and the first phase of local government elections in Sindh showed that police alone was unable to control violence due to fewer numbers.

"Most of the times, these numerical inadequacies coupled with [a] lack of proper training and resources prohibit timely action, thus resulting in violence spiralling out of control."

He went on to say that the political narrative had "vitiated the atmosphere considerable, causing increased polarisation" and putting the upcoming election at risk.

Raja said Rangers were an effective deterrent in the first phase of the local government in Sindh, "although at times the reaction time was longer than would have been required to curtail a flare up of [a] situation".

In the letter, the CEC pointed out that under Article 220 of the Constitution, all executive authorities in the federation and the provinces were...