Summary Government can call all institutions, including Army, to ensure public safety: Saad Rafiq
ISLAMABAD: (Dunya News) – Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Pervez Rasheed has said today (Saturday) that it was necessary to give legal cover to the military presence in the twin cities. Pakistan Muslim League (N) leader said that the Interior Minister’s decision to invoke Article 245 was a necessary step to give legal cover to the military presence in the city.
PML-N Senator said that he government was not considering to revoke the Article 245 in view of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI)’s long march. He played down PTI’s march saying that it poses no threat to the government. Pervez Rasheed said that the ‘Tsunami of Anarchy’ will soon reach its logical end. He said that Pakistanis will reject the politics of anarchy like they did on May 11, 2013.
On the other hand Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafiq has said that the government has the authority to summon any institution in order to maintain law and order in the country. “Army is a government institution and the government can call it in to maintain public safety”, said Saad Rafique. Federal Minister said that the constitution provides government with the option to call in military, or any other government institution, for its help.
Moreover, Saad Rafique advised Chairman PTI Imran Khan to reject the politics of conflict and support the government and Pakistan Army in the War on Terrorism.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had announced yesterday (Friday) that the Article 245 has been invoked in order to give legal cover to the military presence in the Federal Capital Islamabad. PMLN stalwart from Taxila said that PTI’s scheduled long march is not the reason for calling in the Army. He informed that the PTI has not requested permission for its long march so far and any decision regarding it can only be taken once they officially ask for permission.
A Core Committee Meeting of PTI was held today in Islamabad in which the party bitterly criticized the government for its decision of handing over the security of the federal capital to Army. PTI is also planning to challenge the decision in Supreme Court. Press statement released by PTI states that the government has failed in keeping the law and order in the country. The statement also alleges the government of taking such measures to hide its alleged rigging.
