Article 245 to be invoked: Army to aid civil powers in major cities
Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures.
The prime minister has decided in principle to approve the deployment of the armed forces in aid of the civil administration to enhance security at sensitive installations across the country under Article 245 of the Constitution. Nawaz Sharif took the decision after consulting his close aides during a high-level meeting in Islamabad on Friday.
“Under Article 245, which is already implemented in North Waziristan Agency, the army will be called to assist the civilian administration to heighten security arrangements at sensitive installations in major cities and wherever they are. A notification will be issued within a couple of days,” Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid told The Express Tribune.
Article 245 which deals with the functions of the armed forces states: “650 (1) 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.
“651 (2) The validity of any direction issued by the federal government under Clause (1) shall not be called into question in any court.
“(3) 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 in pursuance of Article 245: Provided that this clause shall not be deemed to affect the jurisdiction of the high court in respect of any proceeding pending immediately before the day on which the armed forces start acting in aid of civil power.
“(4) Any proceedings in relation to an area referred to in Clause (3) instituted on or after the day the armed forces start acting in aid of civil power and pending in any high court shall remain suspended for the period during which the armed forces are so acting.”
The prime minister also sought a detailed report from Law Secretary Barrister Zafar before the formal notification would be issued, sources told The Express Tribune.
The meeting was attended by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mehtab Abbasi, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Federal Ministers Pervaiz Rashid, Abdul Qadir Baloch, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Khawaja Saad Rafique.
The prime minister directed the finance ministry to leave no stone unturned in facilitating tens of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) during and after Operation Zarb-e-Azb.
“Our priority is to help our people displaced by fighting and we will do our best to help them,” he was quoted as saying. “We will make sure that after the operation the displaced tribesmen are rehabilitated with honour.”
SAFRON Minister Abdul Qadir Baloch, who has been tasked by the prime minister to look after the IDPs, briefed the meeting on the overall situation. He said that he himself visited Bannu and met with tribal elders to get firsthand information on the IDPs issue.
“The IDPs camps are being managed well. There is no load-shedding at the camps as round-the-clock electricity supply has been ensured. Children of the IDPs are also being vaccinated against polio,” he claimed. He added that cash distribution among the IDPs was being made in a transparent manner and from July 8 onwards payment would be made through mobile cash transfers.
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar told the meeting the Economic Coordination Committee has approved 60,000 tonnes of wheat for distribution to the IDPs.
Number of IDPs soars to nearly 600,000
Officials said on Friday that the number of IDPs has now reached 572,295.
Commissioner SAFRON Abbas Khan, Commissioner Bannu Syed Mohsin Shah, Camp Brigadier Aftab and Brigadier Mukhtiar told a joint news conference in Bannu that Eid packages would be distributed among the IDPs from today (Saturday).
The officials said a total of Rs338 million has been disbursed to date among 28,167 families so far and 22 booths have been set up to facilitate registration at the Saidgai checkpoint. While NADRA teams are present to verify the NICs of those arriving at the checkpoint, FDMA and army officials were joined by civilians, including teachers, in assisting the IDPs.
Mobile hospitals have been set up at the camps. The distribution of food at these camps is overseen by the additional assistant commissioner of the area. The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has recruited 500 police officials to boost security at the camps.
The officials said that the IDPs were unlikely to remain in the camps and might settle in rented houses or with relatives in other areas.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 5th, 2014.
COMMENTS (5)
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And pray, may some one ask this man from the past what will become of the IDP's, which is the collateral partner of Pakistan army? Those from the tribal region are moving over to cities and he wants the karachiwalas and Lahorewalas to seek asylum in foreign lands?
Rex Minor
The death of democracy and again a dictator (PML-N) in the mask. In last 66 years of struggle and great scarifies to establish a land with purity, humanity and welfare is at least failed. The many decision of the present government proves that the rule of democracy is totally failed in Pakistan, its proves that the state is more important than Nation, it proves that still the politicians are not confident, power less and weak enough that they needs the help of border force army instead of internal security forces. It proves that Pakistan is internally more insecure then external. It further proves that like 1971 (Bangladesh) the Pakistan has only one solution to resolve its petty issue through force and suppression or violence. It also proves that Pakistan has not learnt from the history and still need decades to understand how to solve own problem as civilized Nations. After 66 years of Dark Age Pakistan is still in the same era and in the hand of those who really spoil the entire ideology of Pakistan. These forces basically can't alive with direct and indirect power in hands. Unfortunately what is going on are quite petty issue but because of lack of interest, honesty, vision and race for power such issues propagated are great threats. Unfortunately after 66 years of sacrifices Pakistan is still a security state instead of welfare state. Here both the rule of army, agencies and political puppets could not be ignoring that fragmented the whole country and region. They had and are going to destabilize the country and region, they dragging the country and innocent Nation into worst crisis as they did before. It further shows that there is no potential and strength in the political force to deal with internal issues. They are just playing with the Nation and trying to fool the world.
PMLn will never learn from its mistakes, they still severely missing political acumen.
PML(N) preparing to deal with call for march on 14th August by PTI and if any, call of agitation from Dr. Qadri of PAT, PML(N) never learns.
It's an excellent decision. Responsibility to look after pets is handed over to their masters. In case they bite, masters will take care of them.