Fearing severe protests by supporters of jailed ex PM Imran Khan, Rawalpindi district of Pakistan has been handed over to the army for next six months.
This has been done on the recommendation of Pakistan’s Punjab government. The administration fears large-scale unrest as Imran Khan’s party PTI, is set to stage a mega march to the capital, Islamabad. A large number of PTI supporters are expected in the march.
Pakistan’s Punjab government fears that, as Rawalpindi is close to Islamabad, the unrest could spill over to the district that houses Pakistan’s military headquarters. It also has several key military establishments. Even the Adiala jail, where Imran Khan has been imprisoned, is in close proximity. This has forced the Punjab government to hand over Rawalpindi to the army,which will deploy three of its companies for the purpose.
The law and order situation in Punjab is already turning from bad to worse each passing day. Just a few days ago, on August 11, an armed individual opened fire on a military vehicle, resulting in the death of a Pakistani ranger. Though the attacker was neutralised, but it certainly the vulnerability of the region to such attacks.
Article 245 of Pakistan’s Constitution has been specially invoked for this purpose, as it allows the country’s armed forces to interfere in civil administration.
Pakistan has been ruled by military dictators for more than three decades since its inception in 1947.
