Rangers, FC to handle security of Parliament House on day of no-trust vote: Rashid

Published March 11, 2022
Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed addresses a press conference in Islamabad on Friday. — DawnNewsTV
Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed addresses a press conference in Islamabad on Friday. — DawnNewsTV

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Friday said it had been decided that the security of Parliament House, Parliament Lodges, and old MNA House in Islamabad would be handed over to paramilitary Rangers and Frontier Corps (FC) on the day the National Assembly votes on the no-trust motion against the prime minister.

The minister's remarks come a day after a police raid in the Parliament Lodges to expel members of the Ansarul Islam — the volunteer force of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) — who made it to the high-security zone to allegedly provide security to opposition lawmakers.

At least four legislators, along with two dozen Ansarul Islam volunteers, were arrested during the operation, all of whom were released today.

At the press conference in Islamabad today, Rashid warned of dealing anyone disturbing the law and order situation in Islamabad with an iron hand.

"I will trample those who take the law in their hands next time."

He said the opposition was sensing defeat in the no-trust motion it had brought against Prime Minister Imran Khan "and that is the reason they are creating anarchy in Islamabad".

The minister warned that he would not take into consideration the stature of a leader and take all-out action against anyone who disrespected the law.

But he added: "If we detain anyone [parliamentarian] for disturbing the law and order, we will also bring him to the parliament to cast vote on the day of the no-confidence motion."

He predicted that the opposition's "bad time is near", saying they were involved in a "personal battle with Imran Khan, instead of a political one".

"This is all being done to impede Pakistan's progress and damage the balanced foreign policy that Pakistan has adopted under the premiership of Imran Khan," he added.

Rashid recalled yesterday's incident, saying law enforcement personnel had obtained search warrants with the permission of the National Assembly speaker in an attempt to avoid any untoward incident.

"Around 362 families live there [Parliament Lodges]. Of them, 53 are senators and 278 are MNAs. I don't want to spread terror but we do not have some good reports as recently we caught a group from Bara Kahu planning terror activities in Islamabad," he said.

He said the police still did not file terror charges against those who intruded Parliament Lodges. "There is video evidence that shows Senator Kamran Murtaza used extremely foul language against the police but the cops continued to calm him down."

He was of the view that the opposition created a scene "as it lacks the required 172 numbers in the assembly to oust the PM through a the no-confidence vote".

No one to allowed in Islamabad wearing militia dress

The minister said he had also directed police authorities and the Islamabad police chief to bar anyone wearing a militia dress from entering the capital.

"I will not spare anyone who comes to Islamabad wearing a militia dress. And what impression are you trying to give by bringing such people in?" he asked.

In response to a question, Rashid said he knew Army Chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa since his college days, adding that "he [Bajwa] will stand with democracy."

Opinion

Editorial

Furtive measures
Updated 07 Sep, 2024

Furtive measures

The entire electoral exercise has become riddled with controversy, yet ECP seems unwilling to address the lingering questions about the polls.
PCB hot seat
Updated 07 Sep, 2024

PCB hot seat

MOHSIN Naqvi is facing criticism from all quarters. Pakistan’s cricket board chief, who is also the country’s...
Rapes most foul
07 Sep, 2024

Rapes most foul

UNTIL the full force of the law is applied on perpetrators, insecurity will stalk Pakistan’s girl children and...
Positive overtures
Updated 06 Sep, 2024

Positive overtures

It is hoped politicians refusing to frame Balochistan’s problems in black and white is taken as a positive overture by the province's people.
Capital poll delay
06 Sep, 2024

Capital poll delay

THE ECP has cancelled the local government elections in Islamabad for the third time subsequent to a recent ...
Perks galore
06 Sep, 2024

Perks galore

A parasitic bureaucracy still upholds colonial customs whereby a struggling citizenry and flood victims are subservient to status.