Extra security for Pindi by-election sought

The Election Commission of Pakistan has sought from the Punjab provincial government extra security for the by-election in NA -55 constituency, scheduled for February 24.
The EC sent a letter to the Punjab chief secretary said that preferably Rangers or the army should be deployed on the polling day.
The Election Commission said keeping in mind the law and order situation, the candidates had demanded additional security arrangements for the polling day.
The letter was sent by the EC to the provincial government on Monday on a request of the candidates for the by-election, including Awami Muslim League leader Sheikh Rashid Ahmed who recently defied a death squad near his election office in Rawalpindi.
The Punjab government, however, has not responded to the request for extra security by the Election Commission.
The EC letter maintained that the need for extra security for the election acquired importance following the attack on Mr Rashid in which his three supporters were killed and many including Mr Rashid himself injured.
Mr Rashid, meanwhile, has filed a petition in the Lahore High Court praying to order the government to deploy Rangers or army personnel for the by-polls.
The court has admitted the petition with directives to to an assistant advocate general who represents the Punjab provincial government and a standing counsel representing the federal government for seeking instructions and responding to the plea on Feb 18.
The respondents in the case are secretary for defence, chief secretary of Punjab, chief election commissioner and the returning officer for the NA-55 constituency.
Mr Rashid filed the petition through his counsel Sardar Abdul Razzaq, stating that the prevailing law and situation necessitated conducting the election under the army.