Interior ministry has issued notification on Sunday authorizing Punjab Director General (DG) of Pakistan Rangers Major General Azhar Naveed Hayat to clear Faizabad Interchange of protesters belonging to religious parties.
The development has come in hours after Pakistan Rangers was given the lead of security operation in Faizabad today.
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It should be noted here that the ministry had issued a notification to deploy army troops in the capital to check violence and protests however, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa convened a meeting with Prime Minister (PM) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi earlier today and recommended him to not use force.
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The operation that was launched Friday night is continuing in Islamabad and had sparked countrywide protests by Saturday morning.
On the other hand, it should be mentioned that the military pointed out ‘shortcomings’ in the notification of deployment.
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Lieutenant Colonel for Chief of General Staff Abid Mazhar stated that Pakistan Army is fully ready to perform the assigned task in line with its constitutional obligations but few aspects merit deliberation prior to employment of Army.
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“While dealing with the protesters of TLYRA, police has not been optimally utilized to its full capability,” the document states, adding that “Pakistan Rangers, backing up to Police as 2nd tier force physically deployed with Police in Islamabad, have not been given written instructions as already agreed for their employment.”
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It was further mentioned that employment of Army implies application of a force which is traditionally not just used for dispersal of crowd or protesters but to quell commotion.
