Pak deploys army in Islamabad to ensure political stability

Pakistan has deployed at least five companies of the army in various parts of Islamabad to aid civilian law-enforcement agencies in securing the capital for the next three months.

According to Dawn, the federal government's decision to deploy the army in Islamabad under Article 245 of the Constitution is in effect from today.

The army will help secure main offices of the judiciary, Parliament House, Presidency and Prime Minister Houses, foreign missions, foreign office and other important installations, the report says.

However, opposing the move, the Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP) has decided to take up the matter in the National Assembly session, which will commence from August 4.

Reports suggest that the government has sought military assistance for it feels threatened by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's (PTI) upcoming long march on Independence Day.

An interior ministry spokesperson said that the capital was not being 'handed over' to the army and in fact a contingent from the military would assist the police and civil administration at sensitive installations and serve as a rapid response force, the report added.