ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has decided in principle to approve the deployment of the armed forces in aid of the civil administration to enhance security at sensitive installations across the country under Article 245 of the Constitution.
Nawaz Sharif took the decision after consulting his close aides during a high-level meeting in Islamabad yesterday.
“Under Article 245, which is already implemented in North Waziristan Agency, the army will be called to assist the civilian administration to heighten security arrangements at sensitive installations in major cities and wherever they are.
A notification will be issued within a couple of days,” Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid said.
Article 245 which deals with the functions of the armed forces states: “650 (1) 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 of civil power when called upon to do so.
“651 (2) The validity of any direction issued by the federal government under Clause (1) shall not be called into question in any court.
“(3) A high court shall not exercise any jurisdiction under Article 199 in relation to any area in which the armed forces of Pakistan are, for the time being, acting in aid of civil power in pursuance of Article 245: Provided that this clause shall not be deemed to affect the jurisdiction of the high court in respect of any proceeding pending immediately before the day on which the armed forces start acting in aid of civil power.
“(4) Any proceedings in relation to an area referred to in Clause (3) instituted on or after the day the armed forces start acting in aid of civil power and pending in any high court shall remain suspended for the period during which the armed forces are so acting.”
The prime minister also sought a detailed report from Law Secretary Barrister Zafar before the formal notification would be issued, sources said.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif directed the finance ministry to leave no stone unturned in facilitating tens of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) during and after Operation Zarb-e-Azb.
“Our priority is to help our people displaced by fighting and we will do our best to help them,”
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