- Forces will remain deployed from November 22 to 24.
- Armed forces empowered under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
- By-elections scheduled for six NA, seven Punjab seats.
ISLAMABAD: The Interior Ministry on Friday approved the deployment of the Pakistan Army and the Civilian Armed Forces for the by-elections scheduled for November 23.
In its order, the ministry said the broadcast was approved on the request of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
The civilian armed forces will be deployed as second-rate responders with standby/quick reaction force status, the ministry added.
The Pakistan Army will be deployed as “third tier responders (in-situ Quick Reaction Force Mode)”.
The Ministry of Home Affairs stated that the deployment of the armed forces was aimed at supporting the ECP in ensuring the “peaceful conduct of the by-elections to be held on 23 November 2025”.
The ministry said the troops have been “authorized by [the] The Federal Government to exercise the powers under sections 4 and 5 i [the] Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 for the duration of the employment”.
The ECP is set to hold by-elections for as many as six National Assembly seats and seven provincial seats in Punjab.
The development came a day after the ECP took notice of remarks made by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi during a political rally.
The ECP, in letters to secretaries of the defense and home ministries on Thursday, stated that CM Afridi “threatened” district administration, police officers and ECP officials ahead of the by-elections in Haripur.
“Unfortunately, he [KP CM] used offensive language that amounts to harassing and unduly influencing them, which may prevent them [officials] from the effective performance of their duties,” the letter said.
Hours after the letters, the KP chief minister said his remarks had been “taken out of context”.
“I did not campaign for anyone. I said yesterday that there should be no rigging,” he added.
Meanwhile, the ECP notified a multi-level deployment of the Pakistan Army, Civilian Armed Forces and local police for the by-elections, and delegated first-class judicial powers to the designated military and civil officers.
The powers will enable the officials to act in case of any violation, emergency or criminal act.
According to the announcement, the forces will remain deployed from November 22 to 24 with the Pakistan Army and Civilian Armed Forces in standby/response mode.
The ECP stated that the Rangers have been empowered to perform duties as immediate response units.
