Shouldn't use force against fellow Pakistanis, COAS recommends PM to not deploy army

Dunya News

Civil and military leadership convened a meeting in Islamabad to deliberate over prevalent situation

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa has recommended Prime Minister (PM) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Sunday to not deploy army troops to end Faizabad sit-in by saying that force cannot be used against fellow Pakistanis.

PM Abbasi and army chief convened a meeting in the federal capital today and deliberated over the prevalent situation following launch of a security operation against Faizabad-sit-in protesters Friday night.

Reportedly, the army chief recommended PM Abbasi to not use the military against the protesters.

Recommendation of the army chief has come in hours after interior ministry issued a notification Saturday night regarding deployment of Pakistan Army in the capital to check violence and aid to government’s efforts in having the sit-in ended.

According to the details gathered Saturday night, seven person were killed while over 200 wounded in clashes with security forces in Islamabad. At least 400 have been held according to the latest reports while 26 First Information Reports (FIR) have been lodged in different police stations.

Interior minister Ahsan Iqbal had cleared to the protesters that the government would not succumb to illegal demands of a group of people and that law minister Zahid Hamid would not tender his resignation.