SHAFAQNA PAKISTAN (Shia News Agency)
A Gaza like situation has been created against Pakistani citizens including thousands of women and children after Police deputed in Islamabad’s Red zone area were authorised to use force against them who are marching their Azadi March of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Inqlabi March of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) in the federal capital towards Pakistani Parliament, The Shia Post reported.
According to the copy of a document, signed by a Supervisory Officer at the spot, allowed the use of rubber bullets, tear gas and lathi (baton) charge against the protesters if they entered the Red Zone.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Tuesday evening announced that the Pakistan Army has been given the responsibility of securing the federal capital’s sensitive Red Zone area.
Visuals and TV footage showed policemen and women, other security agency personnel (FC and Rangers) standing at the ready in riot gear.
Security in the Red Zone has been divided into three tiers with policemen deputed on the front-lines, other law enforcers (FC and Rangers) as the second tier, while army troops have been deployed in the third tier to protect key installations.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has confirmed the development through a statement to the media.
“Contingents of Army have been deployed for the security of Red Zone,” said the statement.
After holding a sit-in in Islamabad for two days, Imran Khan on Sunday called on his supporters to kick off a countrywide civil disobedience campaign to push the prime minister to resign – appealing to the public to stop paying utility bills and taxes to the government.
He also gave the prime minister 48 hours to resign.
Earlier, Dr Tahirul Qadri, the chief of the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), which is also holding a sit-in in Islamabad, had also given the government 48 hours (until midnight Monday) to meet his demands – which include the dissolution of the current assemblies and the formation of a national government.
Neither specified what would happen in case the government didn’t comply.
Meanwhile, the government on Sunday decided to form two different committees to negotiate with PAT chief Tahirul Qadri and PTI chief Imran Khan in a bid to end the political standoff.
pakistan.shafaqna.com
