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 (ICT) and several districts of Punjab ahead of the PTI’s planned march on the federal capital on Sept 27. According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control, the deployment has been authorised from Sept 20 to Oct 5. “Pursuant to the request made by the chief commissioner, Islamabad Capital Territory … and Home Department, government of Punjab …, the federal government is pleased to authorise deployment of sufficient strength of troops of Pakistan Rangers (Punjab) in ICT and different districts of Punjab province,” the notification reads. The deployment has been authorised under Sections 7(b) and 10 of the Pakistan Rangers Ordinance, 1959, and Sections 4 and 5 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, to perform functions specified under the laws, as authorised by the Islamabad chief commissioner or the provincial government. “The deployed troops may respond appropriately in self-defence to any threats or violent activities encountered in the course of their duties as per rules/regulations in vogue,” the notification states. The interior ministry separately directed that in case of attacks by disruptive and armed groups, Rangers and police would take all appropriate and necessary counter-action in self-defence and take measures to deal with any violent activity. The deployment comes as the administration steps up security measures in the capital and Punjab to maintain law and order ahead of the opposition’s planned march. The Punjab government on Wednesday requested the federal government to deploy Rangers in Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum and Mianwali districts from Sept 22 to Oct 5 to assist the provincial police in maintaining law and order amid an expected protest on Sept 27.

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