Islamabad – The federal government has approved the deployment of three companies of the Pakistan Army in Rawalpindi for law and order and sensitive security matters. This deployment will continue for six months.
According to the notification of the Ministry of Interior dated August 21, the government took this decision under Article 245 of the Constitution. The Punjab Home Department had sent a formal request for this deployment.
According to the notification, the military troops will assume responsibility immediately. The purpose of their deployment is to prevent any untoward situation and assist the district administration in emergencies.
Three companies will perform sensitive security duties in Rawalpindi. The government order did not specify specific locations or the final number of personnel. Some reports have put the number of these troops at over 400.
The primary role of the deployment of the army will be to support the civil administration. The district administration will seek the help of the army in security matters as required.
Article 245 of the Constitution provides the legal basis for using the armed forces to assist the civil administration. Under this provision, the army can be entrusted with responsibilities related to law and order in specific situations.
Rawalpindi is an important administrative and security hub of the country. There are several sensitive installations and important routes in the city. In this context, the decision on long-term security arrangements is important.
The government has fixed the deployment period in the notification for six months. During this period, the army will assist the district administration in security duties as per the requirement.
