Special squad to swoop on miscreants

A contingent of army troops has left from KP to Islamabad to swoop down on the miscreants, 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Friday.

According to security sources, in addition to the troops’ deployment in and around Islamabad, a special contingent has been dispatched from KP to the federal capital.

All-out efforts will be made to protect the life and property of the people and the security of the SCO Summit, they said, adding that no one will be allowed to spread chaos.

The miscreants and armed groups are surrounded on both sides, the sources said.

Islamabad will host the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting on October 15 and 16.  Major foreign leaders, including Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, will be visiting the country.

Army will be deployed in the federal capital as part of measures to maintain law and order.  Sources said the deployment of the army under Article 245 will be completed in all areas of the Islamabad Capital Territory according to the notification issued by the interior ministry. They added that no one would be allowed to take the law into their hands and disturb the peace in the federal capital. 

Earlier, Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi took an aerial view of the federal capital to oversee security arrangements in the wake of the PTI protest call. He expressed his satisfaction with the security arrangements and issued instructions to deal strictly with miscreants.

The Islamabad administration and police are ready to deal with every possible situation, he said, stressing that no one will be allowed to disturb the law and order in the federal capital.

He maintained that all possible measures would be adopted to maintain law and order and protect the life and property of the citizens. The interior minister told the media at D-Chowk that the government had video evidence showing PTI protesters carrying weapons.

He said that peaceful protest was everyone's right, but he also stressed that the timing of these protests was inappropriate. "We are not against peaceful demonstrations, but we cannot allow it at this time," he said, adding the government would not grant permission for the protest to proceed.

The Interior Minister further explained that Islamabad is preparing to host foreign dignitaries, and unrest will not be tolerated. He strongly criticised the recurring arrival of protesters from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, stating, "We will not allow people to be brought from KP to storm Islamabad every fourth day." Naqvi revealed that 61 Afghan nationals have already been arrested during the PTI's previous protests and rallies.