Islamabad: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s government has decided to hand over law and order control of the federal capital to the Army from August 1 for three months. The move comes at a time of increasing pressure on Pakistan Muslim League led government who are bracing for an impending political crisis.
The latest move to deploy the army in Islamabad two weeks ahead of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) ‘Azadi’ march is revealing a hesitant center who claim possible terror attacks for their decision for military rule. In the wake of military offensive in the North Waziristan tribal region, many counter attacks have taken place in the country.
The main opposition party Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), is highly-critical of the decision. Farhatullah Babar, a senator and spokesman of ex-president Asif Ali Zardari, said his party has always opposed the invocation of Article 245 of the constitution dealing with the functions of the armed forces. By invoking Article 245, he said, the order would deprive the masses of their fundamental rights.
According to the former PPP PM Yusuf Raza Gillani, he was advised to invoke article 245 in the wake of long march from restoration of the deposed judges but he did not agree.