Mohammad Jamil Khan

Violence has flared since campaigning began for the 13th national election on January 22, and police say arrests and cases alone will not be enough unless rival groups show restraint.

5 dead and nearly 1,000 injured since Oct last year, rights group says

As major political parties prepare their election manifestos, law enforcement experts and rights activists urge them to make law and order a top priority, keep police free from political interference, and end the partisan use of the force.

With the 13th national election and referendum approaching, the interim government has placed the most vulnerable polling centres under heightened security, tightened controls on firearms and ordered law enforcers to take swift legal action against anyone attempting to disrupt the vote.

Intelligence-led policing, body cameras and neutrality stressed

Law enforcers have started providing security to top political leaders and election officials ahead of the national election after assessing their security risks or threats.

With a little over a month left before the 13th general election, political leaders and activists are increasingly falling victim to targeted killings.

Despite the launch of Operation Devil Hunt, continued killings and law enforcement’s failure to arrest escaped criminals and recover looted weapons are raising serious concerns ahead of the national election.