Rawalpindi, Pakistan: Sensing the failure of the civil administration of Rawalpindi in dealing with PTI’s protests on October 4, 2024, the provincial government of Punjab has deployed the Pakistan Army to handle law and order in the province.
The announcement was linked to the apparent failure of civilian law enforcement agencies and the civil administration of Punjab to handle the situation on October 4, 2024, when PTI followers managed to engage the police and reach near D-Chowk Islamabad Islamabad that is in the Red Zone of capital. All roads leading to Islamabad were sealed with cargo containers and cell phone service was suspended in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
In normal political circumstances, calling the Army under Article 245 is not an advisable decision but in sensitive circumstances owning to SCO Summit, the decision looks wise and timely. Article 245 of the Constitution of Pakistan says:
- The Armed Forces shall, under the directions of the Federal Government, defend Pakistan against external
aggression or threat of war, and, subject to law, act in aid of civil power when called upon to do so.
- The validity of any direction issued by the Federal Government under clause (1) shall not be called in question in any court.
- A High Court shall not exercise any jurisdiction under Article 199 in relation to any area in which the Armed Forces of Pakistan are, for the time being, acting in aid of civil power in pursuance of Article 245:
Provided that this clause shall not be deemed to affect the jurisdiction of the High Court in respect of any proceeding pending immediately before the day on which the Armed Forces start acting in aid of civil power.
- Any proceeding in relation to an area referred to in clause (3) instituted on or after the day the Armed Forces start acting in aid of civil power and pending in any High Court shall remain suspended for the period during which the Armed Forces are so acting.
The situation on the ground indicates this timely decision can help to maintain law and order situation in Pakistan during the time foreign delegates would be in Islamabad but this decision also shows civil administration and the political power of the ruling party have been strongly challenged by few hundred followers PTI.
By October 5 morning, the deployment of the Pakistan Army was completed in Islamabad as the Interior Ministry deployed the Pakistan Army under Article 245 on October 4, 2024. Army troops are actively patrolling the area. To protect the life and property of the citizens and to maintain law and order, the Pakistan Army has started patrolling the entire area. The Army is also present and alert in the Chongi No. 26 area to deal with any emergency. The army has also been given unambiguous rules of engagement. No miscreant will be allowed to disturb law and order.
On October 4, 2024, this scribe did not find civil administration officers like the Assistant Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner Rawalpindi in action as they might have avoided putting them in the mess. This scribe covered the situation at Murree Road, Faizabad, Committee Chowk, and Dhok Kala Khan and found not a single important officer of district management. Similar inputs came from the Murree district and the Attock district. Yes, police were seen in groups of five to 10 persons but the true administrative power was not seen anywhere that surely encouraged protestors to march forward.
According to available information from Lahore, no Situation Room was not created in CM House and the political presence of the Punjab government was not reported while PMLN members of parliament avoided engaging with the situation. On the other side, the KP government with full administrative force headed the processions and encouraged people to reach 26 entry points of Islamabad. It was understood that catchment areas for reaching the venue fall into Punjab and KP provinces therefore proactive rule of civil administration of Punjab (Murree-Rawalpindi—Attock) could enhance administrative writ over PTI workers who were in few hundreds but well planned having strong will to reach the venue.
