ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided to deploy troops in Islamabad to help civil administration to thwart any possible attempt by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers to storm the capital.
The decision has been taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah to evolve a strategy to tackle the much-anticipated march by the PTI.
It was also decided in the meeting that adequate security measures would be taken to keep the protesters/marches off the Red Zone — a highly sensitive area where the President House, the PM Office, the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Pakistan TV, Federal Secretariat, the Diplomatic Enclave and other state buildings are located.
Since his ouster from the Prime Minister’s House early this year, PTI Chairman Imran Khan has been conducting whirlwind protest demonstrations against what he calls an ‘imported’ government.
Recently, he has upped the ante in a bid to stop Shehbaz Sharif from appointing the new Army Chief of the country.
The current Chief of the Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa is retiring in the last week of November and the government will have to announce the new army chief before that date.
Khan has publicly pledged to oppose any name decided by the Prime Minister. Imran Khan has demanded that the government should announce general elections so that the incoming Prime Minister could decide the matter.
Imran Khan has announced to lead a “Haqeeqi Azaadi” or Real Freedom March towards Islamabad and according to the party’s senior leaders it is now a matter of days when “multitudes of the PTI workers would be marching towards the federal capital.
To make sure his workers and supporters will participate in the proposed march, the PTI leader oversaw an oath-taking ceremony held at the Chief Minister’s House of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
Former Governor KP, Shah Farman administered the oath. Speaking on the occasion, Imran Khan asked his party workers to wait for his final call for the ‘Haqeeqi Azadi March’ on Islamabad.
He, however, stopped short of announcing a date of the march and said the day is not far.
