Rawalpindi (GNP): The federal government has 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 on Saturday.
The notification stated that the deployment of three companies for sensitive security duties was authorized upon the request of the Home Department, Government of Punjab, “to avoid any undesirable situation as well as to respond effectively in any unforeseen situation as per the requirement of the district administration.”
The decision follows an incident on Mall Road in Rawalpindi in which an armed man opened fire on security forces, injuring a patrolling officer before being killed in retaliatory firing. The attacker was identified as Muhammad Hussain, a resident of Khyber district, and was described by security sources as an active member of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar criticized the party following the incident, saying there was no justification for the attack on a security official and alleging that violent protests had become a recurring pattern for PTI, with party workers carrying weapons during demonstrations.
The deployment comes against the backdrop of rising political tension, with PTI having announced earlier this month that it would hold a long march toward Islamabad on September 27. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information and Public Relations Minister Shafi Jan said the decision was made in consultation with the party’s allies.
The announcement followed nationwide protests held by PTI to mark the third anniversary of founder Imran Khan’s imprisonment, during which the party demanded his immediate release along with that of his wife, the restoration of constitutional rule, relief from inflation, and what it described as the return of the public mandate and democracy.
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Opposition leaders reiterated their call for the long march this week, alongside a decision to approach the Supreme Court over what they described as the government’s failure to implement its earlier order concerning Imran Khan’s medical treatment.
Leaders who echoed the call included National Assembly Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Senator Raja Nasir Abbas, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan, Asad Qaiser, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, and PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja.
The renewed opposition pressure follows Tarar’s earlier statement clarifying that Imran Khan had not been admitted to Shifa International Hospital, as had been expected under a Supreme Court order, but had instead been taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences for examination before being returned to Adiala jail.
