ISLAMABAD: Army troops would soon be guarding sensitive buildings in Islamabad, and patrolling the streets later, as the federal government’s decision to deploy them in aid of the civil administration came into effect on August 1.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had sent shockwaves across the country last week by revealing that the government had issued a notification on July 24 to requisition services of the armed forces under Article 245 of the Constitution.

A day after a military spokesman disclosed on July 26 that the decision to call army was taken in a meeting, on the launch of the military operation against militants in North Waziristan, held on June 15, the minister accused those criticising the decision were making army controversial in a war-like situation. He said 352 troops were being requisitioned to assist police and other civic agencies secure Islamabad.

They would be deployed from August 1 at the call of district magistrate and operate under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997, he said. And provincial governments could similarly take help of the armed forces to ensure security.

A senior police official told Dawn, on condition of anonymity, that army troops had arrived in Islamabad just after the launch of the Zarb-i-Azb operation in mid June but had to wait for a legal cover for their deployment.

“So the government invoked Article 245 of the Constitution. Now army can be used for patrolling in city, security of important places and buildings,” he said.

“It has been decided to deploy five companies (of army) at the Presidency, the Prime Minister’s House, the Parliament House, buildings of the judiciary, the Foreign Office, Diplomatic Enclave and some other important buildings,” he said.

“One company will be deployed at Margalla Hills because sensitive places can be targeted from the hills. Moreover soldiers will also be deployed at the entry point of federal capital,” he said. “They might be deployed at entry points of capital from Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but initially only the latter is being considered for such deployment,” said the police officer.

“Army soldiers will be all over the city and will be able to reach a hotspot in case of an emergency within 10 minutes. The army will coordinate with police and Rangers directly and through the district administration,” he said.

Senior Superintendent of Police Mohammad Ali Nekokara told Dawn that deployment of the soldiers under Article 245 will be finalised after consultation with the district administration.

“I believe that collaboration between the Army, police and district administration became necessary for national security in the wake of Operation Zarb-i-Azb. Police have been collaborating with all agencies.

That is why not a single untoward incident has been reported in the federal capital since the launch of Operation Zarb-i-Azb,” he said.

As of now SSP Nekokara did not feel the need to put troops on patrol duties in the city, however. “They can be called to that duty if and when required,” he said.

Published in Dawn, Aug 2nd , 2014