ISLAMABAD: Ahead of PTI's announced long march on September 27, the government has started reinforcing security arrangements by deploying Pakistan Rangers in a number of Punjab districts and Islamabad in the backdrop of rising political tensions in the country.

The deployment follows a call by PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan for dialog with the government and urging authorities to refrain from confrontation with political workers and to abandon the use of measures such as net launchers.

Gohar said PTI wanted its concerns to be heard through negotiations, not force outside Parliament. The party did not want the protesters and law-enforcement personnel to come face to face, he said. Political disputes should not turn into physical confrontations, he warned.

The Interior Ministry has allowed the Rangers to help the police to maintain law and order and deal with violent activities or security threats. The deployment is for Islamabad and also Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum and Mianwali. Rangers personnel will be allowed to take necessary action in self-defense in the event of an attack by armed or violent groups.

The new security arrangements are in response to a request from Punjab authorities who had sought Rangers support till October 5. The deployment has been authorized under Article 245 of the Constitution and relevant provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act and Pakistan Rangers Ordinance.

Gohar, meanwhile, reiterated that the PTI’s program would go ahead as announced and dismissed what he called an attempt to portray the march as a threat to state institutions or to Islamabad.

He also defended Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, saying he has the trust of the party founder Imran Khan and the wider party.

With the march date coming closer, the government’s security preparations and the PTI’s calls for negotiations have put dialog and crowd management at the heart of the political debate.

The big question now is whether the two sides can find space for talks before political mobilization turns into street confrontation.

 
Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)