GILGIT: In a major development, the regional government has decided not to acquire the services of the army for conducting the upcoming elections in Gilgit-Baltistan. Arrangements have been finalised for the elections in the region, Gilgit-Baltistan caretaker Chief Minister Mir Afzal Khan said in this connection.

Addressing a press conference in Gilgit on Friday, Mir Afzal said the army personnel would not be called in for the polls as the government was going to deploy police and security forces - Gilgit-Baltistan Scouts and Rangers to ensure security. Mir Afzal, however, added that the army's assistance could be only if and when required, promising the elections would be held at every cost on November 15 in a transparent manner.

The reservations expressed by the All Parties Conference held by the opposition parties were baseless, he told the press conference. He was referring to one of the demands made in the APC declaration which had called for free and fair elections in Gilgit-Baltistan, saying the PTI government was trying to manipulate the process.

Separately, Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Election Commissioner Raja Shehbaz Ahmed said the army would be deployed only at the sensitive polling stations for security reasons, adding that the elections would be free and transparent.