The federal government has notified the deployment of Pakistan Army troops in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to support the civil administration. The move was approved under Article 245 of the Constitution and will last for the duration of the emergency declared on October 11.
Army role and troop numbers in the province
According to the notification, the troops are meant to safeguard the lives and property of citizens, along with government installations. The army will help civil authorities maintain law and order in the province.
The governor will decide how many personnel and what resources are needed, after consulting General Headquarters (GHQ). The formal notification will be published in Part II of the Gazette of Pakistan.
Emergency and Governor’s Rule behind the decision
The deployment follows the federal government’s decision to impose Governor’s Rule and an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to address the law and order situation. President Asif Ali Zardari signed the summary for both measures under Articles 232 and 234, acting on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
A presidential proclamation linked the constitutional steps to a rise in terrorist incidents and serious security threats. It cited increased attacks on government installations and law enforcement agencies, which it said posed serious risks to security and public order.
Eleven-member advisory council named for the province
Earlier, an 11-member advisory council for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was announced. Its members include Dr Syed Amir Abdullah, Tariq Mahmood Pasha and Lieutenant General (retd) Nigar Johar Khan, along with Usman Saifullah Khan, Amir Javed, Samar Haroon Bilour, Dr Muhammad Irshad, Maulana Muhammad Tayyab Qureshi, Kifayatullah Khan, Asif Rafiq Afridi and Dr Sarfaraz Ali Shah.
