ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The federal minister for defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said that the Pakistan army is playing its constitutional role of facilitation under the article 245 to defuse the prevailing situation.
There is nothing wrong in the facilitative role of the state institution, the defence minister told a private television channel.
The defence minister said that article 245 was imposed in the federal capital in the wake of marches and sit-ins to maintain security and law and order.
Earlier on Friday evening, the federal interior minister said in a press conference that the the government had given role of only facilitator to the army as per constitution and law.
The interior minister said that the army was not given role of guarantor and mediator as is being claimed by Imran Khan and Dr Tahirul Qadri. He said that role of facilitation by army is within constitutional ambit.
The minster further said that statement of the Inter Service Public Relations (ISPR) on facilitative role of army has, in fact, endorsed government’s stance on the issue. He said that the ISPR’s statement was issued in consultation with the government.
