Article 245 enforced on army’s demand,Gen Raheel tells Rabbani
Says PM taken into confidence before launching the op
Usman ManzoorSunday, August 10, 2014
From Print Edition
ISLAMABAD: Defending the federal government against the opposition parties’ criticism, Army Chief General Raheel Sharif on Saturday said Article 245 of the Constitution had been imposed in the federal capital on the desire of the army.
Article 245 says the army can be called out for help by the federal government at any time.
During the National Security Council (NSC) meeting, when the PPP leader Mian Raza Rabbani questioned the imposition of Article 245 in Islamabad, none but General Raheel Sharif himself replied that the army demanded it to get legal cover for the deployment of its personnel to secure key installations.
He said Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had said in his press conference that it (the enforcement of the article) was a reflection of the army’s demand.
When contacted, Federal Information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed confirmed that the army chief had replied to the opposition’s query about the imposition of Article 245.
The opposition has been critical of the government’s decision to impose the article in the federal capital for maintenance of peace.
The government was bashed both in parliament and the media. In his effort to neutralise the criticism, Chaudhry Nisar had told the National Assembly said that Article 245 had been imposed in consultation with the army and legal experts to fight terrorism.
Nisar had also clarified that Islamabad had not been handed over to the army. He had also said that the article in question had been used for political objectives in the past and enforced 24 times from 2007 till date.
Saleh Zaafir adds: Army Chief General Raheel Sharif also informed the participants of the meeting that the prime minister had been taken into confidence before the launch of Operation Zarb-e-Azb and informed about the stages of its preparation.
Article 245 enforced on army’s demand,Gen Raheel tells Rabbani - thenews.com.pk
Capital should not left vulnerable for those who are in mood of fasaad and there should be some good chitrol for those who dont behave or get out of control
