The Interior Ministry on Wednesday approved the Punjab government’s request seeking the army’s deployment in the province to address the deteriorating law and order situation in the province.

Following Imran’s arrest, massive protests broke out across the country, with a number of demonstrators gathering outside military cantonments, General Headquarters (GHQ) Rawalpindi, and offices of the Frontier Crops.

Dawn.com has a copy of the ministry’s notification pertaining to Punjab, which stated that the federal government was “pleased to authorise the deployment of army troops and assets for maintaining the law and order situation across Punjab in aid of civil power”.

It added that the government took the decision to exercise the powers conferred under Article 245 (functions of armed forces) of the Constitution and Section 4 (3) (ii) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 (to discharge such functions as specified in the said act).

The Interior Ministry notification highlighted that the exact number of troops, date, and area of deployment would be worked out by the provincial government in consultation with Military Operations Directorate, General Headquarters.

“The date of requisitioning the of the said deployment will be decided subsequently after mutual consultation among both the stakeholders,” it said.

On the other hand, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government also requisitioned from the interior ministry armed forces in aid of civil power under Article 245 of the Constitution.

A copy of the letter, available with Dawn.com stated that the request was made in view of the prevailing law and order circumstances apart from the safety of the life and property of citizens and government installations.

No request has been made by the Balochistan government for the army’s deployment in the country’s largest province.

PTI vice chairman raises questions army deployment in Punjab