Govt mulling joint resolution to remove protesters through army

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Joint parliamentary resolution to ask PM to ‘use force’ to remove protesters from Capital’s Red Zone

With the police seemingly unable to contain the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) protesters, the government is mulling a proposal to table a joint resolution in the joint session of the Parliament on Friday calling on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to order the armed forces to clear the mobs from the Constitution Avenue in line with the direction of the Supreme Court bench, Pakistan Today has learnt reliably.

The protesters were largely peaceful on Tuesday as no clashes were reported from the Red Zone housing important government offices, including Parliament House, President’s House, Prime Minister’s House and Pak Secretariat.

Under the law, there is no need for the prime minister to get the resolution passed by the joint session of the parliament as he has powers to pass any such directive to the armed forces of the country as the government has already invoked Article 245 of the Constitution in Islamabad.

Political observers believe any such resolution would actually give cover to the prime minister as any use of force may result in bloodshed.

However, State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Aftab Shaikh expressed ignorance about any such resolution, stating that the prime minister could direct the army to do the needful through an executive order. He said that the session would conclude on Friday.

Sources in the government informed Pakistan Today that the government had been advised by an allied political leader to order the armed forces to clear the Constitution Avenue removing the protesters.

“This would be like killing two birds with one stone. If the army is backing the protesters, it will be exposed. But if there is no conspiracy, then the army would get the protesters cleared from the Red Zone in the same manner as it had removed them from PTV headquarters,” sources in the PML-N’s allied party said, adding that the suggestion was floated by the politician during a meeting which was seconded by some other politicians.

The source said that the prime minister had assured the leaders of the coalition partners that all of them would be taken on board after he consulted with his party members.

A source in the PML-N government said that the government has started the consultation process on acquiring military’s assistance in getting the Red Zone cleared, as the federal capital had been paralysed for the past 19 days due to the ongoing protests.

“Frankly speaking, the situation is like a civil disobedience movement as police personnel have refused to act against the protesters. So there is no option for the government but to use military for clearing protesters,” the source added.

When contacted, Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, the chief of Qaumi Watan Party, confirmed that a parliamentary resolution in this regard was to be tabled during the joint session of the parliament.

“I don’t think that the parliament would have to ask the prime minister to use army for this purpose. But a resolution would definitely be tabled in the joint session for this purpose,” he added.

Sherpao said that JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman and PkMAP chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai had also called on the premier to get the Red Zone cleared in their speeches made on Tuesday.

“Even I would ask the premier to take measures to remove protesters from the capital roads,” he added.

8 COMMENTS

  1. Very good Sage & Strategic decision for our peoples in Ir Pakistan & world at large peoples are looking the new WAY of Revolution Made in Pakistan excelent but with positive consequences! the grand great majority in the world are under siege by the zionist Money Lords so peoples need news ideas how to get Liberation & Capture those Criminals as a justice seeking modren compatriot pakistani i support this excelent idea how to get listen peoples who govern & manage us, my country men women has Found Again! Great Leaders Janab Qadri sahib & Janab Imran khan sahib Good Luck Ir Pakistan Good Luck Peoples of Islamic Pakistan

  2. Pre emptive doctrine is being practiced by both the Govt. and PTI &PTA. The main purpose is to suck the army into this quagmire. They have suceeded. First The Govt. requested the army to facilitate and the COAS obliged. Next the army was maligned on the hypothesis that it was pro imran &qadri leading to swift denial. Now the PM wants to ORDER the COAS to get rid of Imran and Qadri. Imran &Qadri have always had a soft spot for the army. Why are we making a mockery of the army. If the PM wanted to call in the army why did he wait so long.? It seems to be a last cast of dice.

  3. NAAPAKS QUADRI IMRANKHAN TRAITORS HAVE DEFAMED PAKISTAN WORLDWIDE .. ROLE OF ISI IS SUSPECT AS ALWAYS -RPT OF 1999 AND 1987 1970 1963 1954

  4. It is disappointing to learn that the police declined to remove the protesters from The Red Zone.The role of police personnel ,after all, is
    to maintain law and order .In declining to exercise their duty and obligation to the law-abiding citizens of Islamabad,the police chief should
    hand in his resignation for dereliction of duty.The only time the army should be called in to quell any civil disobedience is when the police
    cannot cope with the situation and are overwhelmed by protesters/rioters.

    Stephen
    U.S.A.

  5. The Government will seal its own fate by asking the army to remove protestors by force. The question is why should there be more bloodshed when we all know the present Government has failed in its mandate. If the army unleashes yet another round of violence against its own population then it will be no more than a mercenary force protecting the rights of a handful of rich families and trampling on the rights of the majority. Long live Pakistan. Shame on the Government of Pakistan

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