Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Sunday chaired a consultative meeting on the Faizabad operation.
The meeting was also attended by Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, DG ISI Naveed Mukhtar, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal.
The premier was briefed on the situation that has ensued after the crackdown on the protesters in Faizabad.
Army seeks ‘clarification’
Hours after the desperate government called out the army after an abortive operation to disperse protesters from Islamabad’s Faizabad Interchange, the military has asked for ‘clarifications’ over a few matters before they step in.
In its reply to the Interior Ministry, a statement issued by the General Headquarters said the army is ready to fully “perform the assigned task in line with its constitutional obligations a few aspects meriting prior to employment of army”.
On Saturday, the Ministry of Interior said a sufficient number of troops, to be determined by the Commander of the 111 Brigade, were being deployed in the capital to assist civil authorities in maintaining law and order. The troops have been deployed in aid of civil power under Article 245 of the Constitution and will remain in Islamabad until further order.
The army’s statement listed down three key points.
They pointed out that the police have not been “optimally utilised” while dealing with the protesters of Tehreek-e-Labbaik.
It further stated that the Rangers have not been given written instructions for their deployment in contrast to the agreement that a written order would be required for their deployment.
Citing the Islamabad High Court order, the communique also said that the court had barred the use of firearms against the protesters and calling the army in implies the use of force. The statement has then asked for a clarification on the matter.