Govt approves army deployment in Rawalpindi under Article 245 for six months

The federal government on Saturday approved the deployment of the Pakistan Army in Rawalpindi for six months under Article 245 of the Constitution. According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control, the deployment was made upon the request of the Home Department, Government of Punjab. "The federal government, exercising the powers conferred under Article 245 of the Constitution of Pakistan, is pleased to authorise deployment of 3x companies of the Pakistan Army for sensitive security duties in Rawalpindi," the notification stated. It added that this was "to avoid any undesirable situation as well as to respond effectively in any unforeseen situation as per the requirement of the district administration". The move came after an armed man belonging to a "specific political party" was killed after he allegedly opened fire on security forces, injuring a patrolling officer on Mall Road in Rawalpindi. The incident took place at around 11:15am when an armed man identified as Muhammad Hussain opened fire at security forces before he was killed in retaliatory firing. According to Pakistan Television News (PTV), citing security sources, the alleged attacker was a resident of Khyber district and was described as an active member of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, after the incident, criticised PTI and accused the party of promoting violence and unrest. Tarar said there was no justification for the PTI worker to open fire on a security official, adding that the violent protests had become a pattern for the party and claimed that PTI workers carried weapons during demonstrations. Read: Kerfuffle in NA over Imran's hospital fiasco Separately, it was announced earlier this month that PTI would hold a long march towards Islamabad on September 27, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Information and Public Relations Minister Shafi Jan saying the decision was taken in consultation with the party’s allies. The call for a long march came after the PTI observed a black day on the third anniversary of party founder Imran Khan's imprisonment with nationwide protests, demanding the immediate release of the founder and his wife, restoration of constitutional rule, relief from inflation, restoration of what it described as the public mandate and the return of democracy. The call for the long march was reiterated by the opposition parties yesterday, along with their decision to approach the Supreme Court (SC) over what they described as the government’s failure to implement its order concerning Imran's medical treatment. Read More: Shafi Jan accuses Centre of defying courts National Assembly Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Senator Raja Nasir Abbas, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan, Asad Qaiser, K-P Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, among other leaders, reiterated the call. The developments came after Tarar’s statement that Imran had not been admitted to Shifa International Hospital, as had been expected following an SC order, but had instead been taken to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for examination before being returned to Adiala jail.