The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has said that magisterial powers for the 2018 elections have been given to the army by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), and not by parliament.
"The law minister’s assertion that parliament gave magisterial powers to the army is at best a self-serving half truth and at worst downright manipulation to pave way for polling day rigging and is rejected." — PPP Parliamentarians secretary general Farhatullah Babar
He said section 193(a) of the law passed by parliament also granted magisterial powers to an officer of the armed forces but only in respect of offences of impersonation, or capturing of polling station or polling booth punishable under section 174.
