LAHORE: Opposition parties believe that some 'hawks' are behind the PML-N government's decision to call in army in Islamabad apparently to prevent the PTI from holding 'Azadi March' on Aug 14.

"It appears there is confusion in the ranks of the PML-N about calling in the army. It is a bad decision and it is expected that sanity will prevail and the prime minister will withdraw it on his return from Saudi Arabia," PTI Vice-Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi said.

Speaking to Dawn, Mr Qureshi asked why the PML-N government was dragging the army into politics. "The army is performing its duty on borders and engaged in an operation in North Waziristan. The government wants to drag it into politics, which is a bad move," he said.

He said the government could not curb fundamental rights by invoking article 245.

"The PML-N leadership should have taken this decision after analysing its repercussions. Calling the army under article 245 of the Constitution means the government has admitted its failure to run the country," PPP's Navid Chaudhry said.

He said the decision was showing extreme nervousness of the government and it might backfire. Now there would be demands from the provinces to call in the army to control law and order situation, he added.

Pakistan Awami Tehreek chairman Dr Tahirul Qadri said the government had admitted its failure to run the country by calling in the army in Islamabad. "How can a government run the country when it cannot safeguard a capital," Qadri wondered.

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2014