Politics · India Bureau
Pakistan deploys army in Rawalpindi for six-month security operation
Pakistan's federal government has authorised the deployment of three army companies in Rawalpindi for a six-month period to handle sensitive security duties. The decision follows a request from Punjab's home department and invokes constitutional provisions allowing armed forces to assist civil authorities.
LSN India ·
The Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control issued a formal notification on Friday approving the military deployment under Article 245 of Pakistan's Constitution, which permits the use of armed forces in support of civilian administrative functions.
According to the official statement, the decision was made to "avoid any undesirable situation as well as to respond effectively in any unforeseen situation as per the requirement of the district administration." The deployment will see three companies of the Pakistan Army stationed in Rawalpindi, a garrison city in Punjab province.
The approval came at the behest of Punjab's home department, which cited the need for enhanced security measures in the region. The six-month deployment period will allow authorities to address what officials described as sensitive security requirements in the district.
Such military deployments in aid of civil power are not uncommon in Pakistan, though they typically remain temporary measures. The notification did not specify the precise nature of the security duties or circumstances that prompted the request from provincial authorities.