Army takes charge of Islamabad security

The Pakistan Army has taken charge of security of key locations of the federal capital as the government’s decision to deploy troops in Islamabad under Article 245 of the Constitution came into effect from today for a duration of three months.

Five companies of the army have been deployed in various parts of Islamabad to secure main offices of the judiciary, Parliament House, Presidency and Prime Minister Houses, foreign missions, Foreign Office and other important installations.

One army company has been deployed at Margalla Hills and on the road that connects Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with Islamabad.

According to the security plan, the army would work in close coordination with the police, Rangers and administration for ensuring foolproof security for Islamabad.
However, the Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) has decided to take up the matter in the National Assembly session starting from August 4.
An Interior Ministry spokesperson had elaborated that the federal capital was not being handed over to the army and in fact a contingent from the military would assist the police and civil administration at sensitive installations and serve as a rapid response force.

Earlier, Information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed had downplayed the impression that the decision to deploy troops in Islamabad had anything to do with the upcoming PTI long march.

The PTI has rejected the government’s decision to invoke the article and a statement issued by the party’s central information secretary had stated that resorting to Article 245 signals an admission of failure to govern.

Meanwhile, the PPP has been strongly opposing the decision to deploy the army in the capital, saying summoning the army under the said article has ‘grave implications for political stability and civil-military relations in the country.