Islamabad, Pakistan: Prime Minister of Pakistan Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Chief of Pakistan Army Qamar Bajwa met on Sunday and reviewed issue of deployment of Army in Islamabad.
According to available information, Prime Minister of Pakistan Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Chief of Pakistan Army Qamar Bajwa met on Sunday and reviewed issue of deployment of Army in Islamabad. It is pertinent to mention that Federal government sought the deployment of Pakistan Army in Islamabad on Saturday evening as part of efforts to liberate the besieged Capital from religious parties’ activists; however, the government’s orders haven’t yet been implemented.
Meanwhile, senior journalist Hamid Mir said that Army Chief Qamar Bajwa suggested Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to public report of committee that was formed to check who was responsible for including blasphemous clauses in Election Act 2017.
On Friday, the Interior Ministry in “Pursuant to the request” made by the Islamabad administration, authorized deployment of troops of Pakistan army “under article 245 of the Constitution” to control law and order situation in the Federal Capital with immediate effect.
In response to the government’s order, Pakistan army said that it “Is fully ready to perform the assigned task in line with its Constitutional obligation”. However, it said that deliberation on certain aspects needs to be made prior to the deployment of troops in Islamabad.
Pakistan army was of the view that “While dealing with protestors of Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah, police has not been optimally utilized to its full capability.” It further said that “Pakistan Rangers have not been given written instructions”.
Pakistan army also said while apprising the government in a letter about its version that it “Is traditional not just used for dispersal of crow/protesters but to quell commotion.” It said that its deployment needs to be clarified in the light of Supreme Court of Pakistan and Islamabad High Court (IHC) orders which restrained use of “Fire Arms” during clearance operation.
The federal government took the initiative of summoning Pakistan army in the Federal Capital after an operation launched to remove the three-week long sit-in at Faizabad caused the further deterioration in the overall law & order situation.
Not only the Federal Capital became the battleground between law enforcement agencies (LEAs) and protesters, resulting in deaths of six people and injuries to over 150 but other parts of the Country were also gripped by massive protests.
In Karachi alone, 35 people including two policemen suffered injuries as clashes broke out in parts of the City between law enforcers and religious parties’ activists as a result of people’s protests against Faizabad Crackdown.
Likewise protests also erupted in several Punjab Cities including in Lahore where Rangers were called on to control the situation. However, as per reports, the paramilitary force was seen anywhere despite the requisition orders.
As of now, the sit-in protest by Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah and Sunni Tehreek still continues at Faizabad Interchange in Islamabad while in order to express solidarity with Faizabad sit-in, sit-in protests are also being staged in Lahore at Chairing Cross Mall Road, Babu Sabu Interchange, Begum Kot, Shahdara Mor and GT Road (from Gujranwala to Lahore), as well as at Numaish Chowrangi in Karachi. Likewise small sit-in protests also continue in other parts of the Main Cities.
Meanwhile, traffic operations are disrupted on GT Road and Motorway M-2 & M-3. However, Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway is currently open.
