Pakistan's top election body, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), has requested the deployment of regular army troops to maintain peace during the upcoming general election scheduled for February 8, 2024. In a letter to the interior ministry, the ECP highlighted a deficit of 277,558 security officials needed to ensure safe and secure polling across the country. The letter specifically mentioned a shortfall of 4,500 personnel in Islamabad, which could disrupt the electoral process. Furthermore, the provinces of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, and Balochistan also face shortages of police personnel required for the elections.

The Election Commission of Pakistan has asked the interior ministry to deploy army troops for security on election day. The commission says they have 328,000 police & other personnel for election duty & that they'll need another 277,000 security personnel to maintain law & order.

— Roohan Ahmed (@Roohan_Ahmed) December 4, 2023

The ECP set a deadline of December 4 for the interior ministry to address the personnel shortage and deploy the Pakistan Army and other security forces at polling stations. In response to concerns about a funding shortfall hindering the ECP's preparations, caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi assured the public that there is no financial crisis. He affirmed that all budgeted funds will be promptly released based on the ECP's needs. The federal cabinet has already approved Rs42 billion for the ECP, with Rs10 billion already disbursed.

The ECP has requested an additional release of Rs17.4 billion. Solangi emphasized the government's commitment to holding free and fair elections, as mandated by Article 218(3) of the constitution. Overall, the ECP's request for army deployment and its concerns over the shortage of security personnel, along with assurances from the information minister regarding adequate funding, highlight the preparations and challenges leading up to Pakistan's upcoming general election.