Amid this fast-changing security situation on the ground in Islamabad with violent protests, clashes, arrests, cellular services and internet blockades; the government of Pakistan has decided to hand over the security of the capital to the Pakistan Army units officially.
Pakistan's capital Islamabad and its twin city Rawalpindi, with the connecting route between Punjab province, Federal Capital Islamabad and the Khyber Pukhtunkhwa (KP) province, have been the site of clashes between supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the security forces throughout Friday and is expected to spill over into the weekend as well.
With the SCO summit scheduled to be held on October 15-16 in Islamabad, coupled with the fast aggravating security situation on the ground with fierce clashes reported amid PTI's call for protest at D-Chowk in Islamabad on October 4, the Federal Ministry of Interior has ordered handing over the security of the capital to Pakistan Army.
The orders had come under Article 245 of the Constitution that stated: "The Armed Forces shall, under the directions of the Federal Government, defend Pakistan against external aggression or threat of war, and, subject to law, act in aid to civil power when called upon to do so".
Army troops have been deployed in the city to assume security responsibilities in the capital after directives from the ministry in a bid to restore law and order in the capital with PTI protests gong full throttle.
Official sources said that from October 4 to October 17, the capital has been handed over to the armed forces. Patrolling at key locations is an important part of the role the armed forces play there to provide safety and security to citizens and public property. It would also incorporate ensuring security protocols during the SCO summit where dignitaries from member states would be landing in Pakistan.
More importantly, this fact makes the event even more important, critical and crucial since External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will lead the Indian delegation and travel to Islamabad for the summit.
But on the ground, security situation amid PTI-led protests ensuing violent clashes with police authorities has made the political situation extremely sensitive for the government and spread confusion about probable outcomes which might be seen in the coming hours of the country.
"I am very worried about how the military establishment and the government have decided to handle this situation. They have called in the army to take control of the capital for 17 long days. They have applied Article 245, which means that they are referring to a political party PTI as either an external force which threatens war against the state. This is dangerous…," said senior analyst Najam Sethi.
Considering the present scenario… where you have KP CM Ali Amin Gandapur, with his barage of people and with weapons and threatening to breach through blockades for Islamabad.he faces the army now. And god forbid, if a gunshot is fired in these days, by any of his angry protestors who have been difficult to control as we have seen in the recent past, the situation may go completely out of hand and end up in a disaster, added Sethi.
It would not be wrong to say that deployment of armed forces in the capital basically put the military establishment and former premier and currently incarcerated Imran Khan's PTI directly standing against each other. Any wrong move now, from the military establishment or PTI, may just be the final showdown that would push the country into anarchy and chaos.
At this juncture, while the suspicions and stakes remain high with all eyes stuck on the ticking clock, the next 24 to 48 hours have become highly critical.
However, for others, especially with a close watch on the developing situation — the matter will not be allowed to escalate, while the prime demand of PTI, seeking engagement between imprisoned Imran Khan and the military establishment, may also not be entertained.
The military establishment has held to what it had been saying over the past several months. There cannot be talks with Imran Khan — not after what he and his party did on 9th May 2023. It will remain as such. Even this current tactic to create pressure and spread riots to force the military establishment to reconsider engagement with Imran Khan is not going to be entertained," said a reliable source on the condition of anonymity.
"Ali Amin Gandapur and his people are violently protesting at the edge of KP with not many options left and seeking help from the military establishment to retreat. He has the army standing in front of him, and the armed forces have also been called in from his province KP, who have maintained their positions close to the Burhan interchange. So Gandaur is trapped in his own misadventure," he added.
The source further added that the doors of the military establishment will remain shut for Imran Khan, just as it was in the past. And his loudest voice Gandapur will have a decision to make for himself and his provincial government.
KP CM Gandapur is heading a crowd, armed and willing to kill or be killed, who have declared that they are prepared to use their arms to fight and tear down the blockades to enter into the capital now ruled by the Pakistan armed forces. It's a recipe for his own crash.". Any wrong move and he will have terrorism cases against him, a change of command in his province with a governor rule imposed and an end to his political party PTI, which is left with Gandapur only as their voice. Imran Khan also supports Gandapur, so as the ship falls, so will the man behind the bars as his pressure tactics will fail yet again, the source said.
Even though the claims made by the source are based on expected outcomes, the ground situation in Pakistan remains extremely tense and is expected to retain its sensitivity for at least the next 48 hours.
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