Pak polls: 75,000 security personnel deployed

Islamabad: A staggering 75,000 security personnel, including 5,000 troops for sensitive polling stations in restive areas, were deployed across Pakistan today for the landmark elections, threatened by the Taliban.

Aerial surveillance was also in place for sensitive polling stations apart from installation of security cameras, a military official said. Armoured Personnel Carriers and Army`s sniffer dogs were also made available for security purposes, the officer was quoted by Dawn newspaper as saying. Long queues were seen outside thousands of polling stations across the country despite fears of attacks by the Taliban, which had said that it would carry out attacks, including suicide bombings, on election day as it considers the polls part of an "infidel" system of democracy. Over 100 people, including candidates, were killed in gun and bomb attacks by the Taliban and other militant groups during the campaign period. Threats and attacks by the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan forced three major parties - Pakistan Peoples Party, Awami National Party and Muttahida Qaumi Movement to dramatically curtail their campaign. The military had said that it will ensure complete security on the polling day and a special security monitoring cell will be established at the General Headquarters. PTI