As Imran marches on, Islamabad security given to army

Islamabad, Aug 19:

As a protest march continued in Pakistan, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan Tuesday announced that the army has been entrusted with the responsibility of securing Islamabad’s sensitive Red Zone area.

The move came as protestors from Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) persisted with their threat to march to Constitution Avenue in the federal capital city, Dawn online reported.

“The constitution allows the army to be deployed under Articles 131 and 245 if there is a situation pertaining to internal security,” the minister was quoted sa saying.

“We have not called army against any political party… (it is) to protect the Red Zone which we have international obligations to fulfil. It (the army) is undertaking a constitutional internal security responsibility,” he said during a press conference here.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) through a statement has confirmed the development.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imaran Khan claimed that the 2013 elections were rigged and that Sharif has a “fake mandate”.

He also demanded that fresh elections be held.

(IANS)