LAHORE: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Sunday decided against the use of force to disperse protesters in Islamabad. The top military and civilian leaders have agreed to engage in political negotiations with agitators in the capital.
As agitation in the federal capital enters the second day, a high-level meeting was underway at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad to discuss the law and order situation in the capital, media reports said on Sunday.
Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Director-General (DG) Inter-Services Intelligence were also present in the meeting.
Punjab Rangers on driving seat now
Punjab rangers have been called in by the federal government to clear the Faizabad area held by the protesters.
They are given the task of handling the agitated law and order situation prevailing in Islamabad.
Punjab Rangers DG Maj Gen Azhar Naveed will be in charge of the whole operation, a notification issued by the ministry of interior stated.
Around 1,000 Rangers personnel, who were deployed in the capital yesterday, have been repositioned to the frontlines of the security operation.
Military seeks clarification before assisting government
Replying to federal government’s request to the military to deploy its troops in Islamabad to restore peace, Army on Sunday said that it is “fully ready” to assist the government in an operation against protesters.
On Saturday, after a day-long operation against the agitators, the Interior Ministry sent out a formal requisition for the deployment of military troops in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
Responding to government’s request, military officials sent a letter to the ministry of interior, saying the army was fully ready to discharge its constitutional responsibility of assisting the government.
However, the letter states that before troops are deployed, there are a “few aspects meriting deliberation”, such as how the “police has not been utilized to its full capacity” in dealing with the religious protesters.
It points out that “the Pakistan Rangers have not been given written instructions.”
Read more: Islamabad sit-in: Govt summons army to control law and order situation
Citing orders passed by the Supreme Court and the Islamabad High Court earlier this week, the letter also highlights that the Army is not a force traditionally used to disperse crowds or protesters. The statement has then asked for a clarification on the matter.
On Saturday, as the government continued its crackdown on agitators, DG ISPR Asif Ghafoor took to Twitter and stated that violence would be against national interest and cohesion and quoting the COAS said the issue should be resolved peacefully.
Meeting between PM Abbasi, CM Sharif
Prime Minister Shahid Kahqan Abbasi and Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif are expected to meet to come up with a strategy to tackle the situation developing in the country.
According to reports, important decisions are expected out of the meeting.
Violence continues for the second day
The protesters who largely belong to various ‘religious’ parties, including the Tehreek-i-Khatm-i-Nabuwwat, Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLY) and the Sunni Tehreek Pakistan (ST), continued their protest at the Faizabad bridge on Sunday. The agitators have been calling for the sacking of Law Minister Zahid Hamid and strict action against those behind the amendment in the Elections Act 2017.
In Lahore, demonstrators have occupied Shahdara Chowk, Mall Road and Faisal Chowk since yesterday. Traffic and routes have been disrupted.
On Saturday, at least six people were killed and hundreds wounded as law enforcement agencies finally launched an operation to clear Faizabad interchange from protesters.
The six killed were identified as Hafiz Mohammad Adeel, Jahanzaib Butt, Abdul Rehman, Mohammad Sharjeel, Zohaib Ahmed and Mohammad Irfan.
The injured also include senior police officials, nine police officers and a polio vaccinator.
