Staff Correspondent:

The Election Commission (EC) is set to send a proposal to the Chief Adviser this week, asking to retain the magistracy powers of the Army during the February general elections.

The EC will send the draft of the amended Representation of the People Order (RPO) for approval by the advisory council, the Deutsche Welle (DW) reported on Sunday, quoting Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud.

The magistracy powers of the Army, Navy and Air Force are set to expire on 14 September. Political analysts as well as politicians have called for their presence with magistracy powers during the general elections as the police and local administration are expected to be politically influenced.

The Army’s magistracy powers during elections would keep it as the mainstream law enforcement force alongside internal security agencies like police, RAB, BGB, Ansar, and Coast Guard.

Previously, the Army served only as a “striking force” during general elections, and the EC required government approval to deploy them. There have been occasions when the EC sought their support but the government did not pay heed, according to security analysts

Upon receiving government approval, the EC could keep them stationed only as a “striking force” outside polling centres. Army officers needed the local magistrate’s approval to act against miscreants. However, the magistrates are many a time, politically biased and influenced.

The RPO amendment draft seeks to address all these shortcomings.

As per the draft, the Army would remain in the field during all kinds of elections as a mainstream security agency, and the EC would consult with the Army Headquarters to discuss details of the deployment, without requiring prior government approval.

Furthermore, on-duty Army officials would not need approval from a magistrate to act for ensuring law and order during the polls. Like police officers, they would be able to detain suspected miscreants for a specified period without warrants.