Precautionary measures: Army to guard key installations, says Nisar

ISLAMABAD:

As the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) prepares for its ‘decisive’ rally on November 30, the government is devising strategies on how to deploy the military in the effort to protect key installations in the federal capital.

More than 22,000 personnel of the law enforcement agencies have been recalled and more than 150 containers will be replaced at key points to counter PTI’s call for a huge gathering of 0.5 million public gathering on November 30.

“For protection of constitutional buildings, the government has been determined how to engage military to keep protestors away from these offices on November 30,” said Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar.

“It’s November 30, not August 30, [Imran] Khan Sahib [political] waves are different now,” he told the reporters on Thursday.

“The police, Rangers, elite force will be deputed on security on November 30. We will not allow them [protesters] to enter the Red Zone. Nobody will be allowed to take the law into their hands,” he said.

Meanwhile, the government has also made up its mind to allow PTI to hold its rally at D-Chowk on Sunday, seeking guarantee from the party’s top leadership that their supporters will not protest outside parliament or other key state’s installations at Constitution Avenue, interior ministry officials told The Express Tribune.

The government, however, will announce its final decision on Friday (today).

PTI has sought permission from the district administration to hold a rally at D-Chowk, Chaudhry Nisar said, “We will decide tomorrow [Friday] whether to allow them to hold a rally at their proposed place or not.”

Censuring PTI chairman Imran Khan’s rallies, the interior minister claimed more than Rs1 billion have been spent on law enforcement agencies performing duties in Islamabad owing to the ongoing sit-ins.

Responding to a question regarding expected violence on the day of the rally, Nisar said the government will limit terrorism on November 30 by PTI workers.

He said Article 245 has already been invoked and the military could be called in an emergency situation. He claimed to call the military and paramilitary forces to protect state institutions.

Article 245 states: “The Armed Forces shall, under the directions of the Federal Government, defend Pakistan against external aggression or threat of war, and, subject to law, act in aid of civil power when called upon to do so.”

Former (caretaker) Interior Minister Malik Habib says every government has discretionary power to invoke all such laws which can help it to maintain peace in an emergency.

Giving reference of Article 245, which also states “a high court shall not exercise any jurisdiction under Article 199 in relation to any area in which the armed forces of Pakistan are, for the time being, acting in aid of civil power”.

Habib observes the government will definitely work out a fresh strategy in view of the situation created on August 30 by the protesters. He urged the government not to use extra-judicial power against peaceful protesters until they take the laws into their hands.

Proposed Security Plan

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan attended a briefing over the security plan for November 30 PTI’s rally.

Inspector General of Police Bani Amin Khan and SSP Asmatullah Junejo are in contact with senior management of the interior ministry.

Asmatullah Junejo said that around 22,000 personnel of Rangers, Frontier Constabulary, Punjab and Azad Kashmir police have been recalled. Around 150 containers will be placed at 80 key points besides making utmost efforts to protect the Red Zone in the federal capital, the police officials added.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 28^th, 2014.