ISLAMABAD: The federal government Monday approved the deployment of the Pakistan Army across the country to ensure security during the month of Muharram.
Interior Ministry gave nod to the deployment of armed forces in all provinces after the authorities in Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir requested military deployment to maintain law and order.
The Interior Ministry issued a formal notification in this regard. The deployment of army troops/assets and civil armed forces troops/assets was sanctioned under Article 245 of the Constitution to ensure peace.
Federal Ministry clarified that the army troops will assist the civil administration based on the ground situation during Ashura and that the provinces will have the authority to determine the deployment locations.
It is pertinent to mention here that Ashura will be observed in Pakistan on July 17 (Wednesday). The Sindh government has imposed a ban on pillion riding across the province during the 10 days of Muharram.