- Interior minister says army deployed in Red Zone for security of vital installations and foreign embassies
- Lashes out at Imran Khan for breaking his promise on not entering Red Zone
Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan Tuesday dismissed speculations that the Pakistan Army was behind the anti-government protests.
“I want to say this with full responsibility; the Pakistan Army is not behind this game,” NIsra told a hurriedly called press conference in which he announced the deployment of army troops in the federal capital.
“The constitution allows the army to be deployed under Articles 131 and 245 if there is a situation pertaining to internal security. We have not the called the army against any political party… [it is] to protect the Red Zone which we have international obligations to fulfill. It [the army] is undertaking a constitutional internal security responsibility,” Nisar said.
He said that consulates had expressed fears to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs so “we had to brief them about the situation”.
“We told them that the situation is under control and the deployment of army troops is a result of this.”
“The army will firstly guard vital installations, and other than that there will be deployment that I will not explain in detail,” said the interior minister.
KHAN BROKE PROMISE:
The interior minister lashed out at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan for not honouring his promise to stay out of the Red Zone.
He said that Khan sent a text message to him and gave his word that he will not move into the Red Zone.
“In response, I said without a moment’s hesitation and without consulting anybody that I will give this permission at once … Your word is enough for me.”
He said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has held detailed discussions with the federal cabinet and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leadership and has decided to again extend an olive branch to the protesters.
“The spirit in which we allowed them (PTI and PAT) to protest, and offered to negotiate, we are again inviting them to negotiate. Our committees made all out efforts to engage them in dialogue.”
He also pleaded to Khan to prevent people from entering into violence.
“You were the champion of new politics. You had a majority of new voters. For God’s sake leave your ego aside…I have always been impressed by your [noble] intentions. But our political lives for the first time are at odds. A leader does not push people into violence, he take people towards new politics.”
“The 2013 general elections were not conducted by us but by the caretakers … These demands do not fall under the government’s domain. Instead of resolving the issues at right platforms and in parliament, they took it to the streets.”
Nisar said that there were suggestions that the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) should not be allowed to carry on with their march on the federal capital, but both parties were allowed to protest in spirit of democracy.
“Despite the use of inappropriate language against the prime minister and the ministers throughout the march, the government didn’t do anything against them.”