Rangers deployed in Islamabad, Punjab districts ahead of PTI’s Sept 27 march

Islamabad: The federal government has approved the deployment of Rangers in Islamabad Capital Territory and multiple Punjab districts in anticipation of the PTI's scheduled demonstration on September 27th. The Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control announced the authorization of troops from September 20th to October 5th. The deployment was requested by the chief commissioner of Islamabad Capital Territory and the Home Department of Punjab.

It adheres to the Pakistan Rangers Ordinance, 1959, and the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, allowing the troops to act under specified legal provisions. The troops are granted the authority to act in self-defense in response to any threats or violent actions they may encounter during their duties. The Interior Ministry also directed that in the event of attacks by armed groups, Rangers and police should take all necessary countermeasures for self-defense and address any violent activities.

The move is part of a broader security enhancement in the capital and Punjab to uphold law and order during the opposition's planned march. The Punjab government had previously sought additional deployments in Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, and Mianwali districts from September 22nd to October 5th to aid provincial police in maintaining order.

The PTI has been informed that the federal government is unlikely to permit the march on Islamabad, having been offered confidence-building measures and informed that any attempts to protest would be met with consequences. However, Interior Minister Tallal Chaudhry dismissed the PTI's claims of receiving any CBMs as misleading, stating that the party has previously made similar assertions, which proved untrue.