DG ISPR Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor today said that the armed forces will support the Election Commission of Pakistan according to the code of conduct provided by the commission itself, and will have "no direct role" in conduct of elections.

Gen Ghafoor explained that this time around, the ECP has entrusted the Army with six tasks, which include the maintenance of overall security of the country, provision of security to printing presses in Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore, and aiding transportation of the printed material.

"The counting of ballots is the ECP's job," he added.

This is the second time in a little over a month that the army has clarified its role in the polls. Early in June, Gen Ghafoor had responded to criticism about the reported role of the military in the elections by saying it has no role.

Read about today's press conference here.