PML-N receives flak from opposition for seeking army help to prevent Azadi March

The Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) is reportedly under fire from opposition parties over its decision to call-in the army in order to prevent Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) from holding a mass protest march in Islamabad on August 14.

Opposition parties have said that they believe some hawks are responsible for the government's decision to call in the army which is engaged in military operations in North Waziristan, reported the Dawn.

Terming the decision to drag the army into politics a bad move, PTI Vice-Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that he hoped that sanity would prevail and the Prime Minister would withdraw his decision after his return from Saudi Arabia.

He also added that fundamental rights, like these, cannot be curbed by invoking article 245.

Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader, Navid Chaudhry on the other hand remarked that calling in the army under article 245 would mean that the government has accepted its failure to run the nation. He also said that the leadership should have thought about the consequences of the decision before making it.

Pakistan Awami Tehreek Chairman Dr Tahirul Qadri also launched an offensive by questioning the capability of a government that has sought the assistance of army in securing the capital during a political rally.

PTI Chief Imran Khan announced his decision to hold a public protest, Azadi March, to root out corruption in Pakistan last Thursday.