LAHORE/ ISLAMABAD; As situation worsens due to growing violent protest of the banned religious outfit ( Tahreek e Labaik Pakistan), the federal government on Wednesday invoked article 147 of the constitution to deploy Rangers in Punjab.
Interior minister, Shaikh Rashid Ahmad , announced deployment of Rangers in Punjab for two weeks at a press conference after the cabinet meeting, which met here with prime minister , Imran Khan. Shaikh Rashid Ahmad briefed the cabinet on the issue of the on-going protest of the banned religious outfit. The prime minister issued the directions during the cabinet meeting and directed to cope with the protestors with iron hands. The prime minister said those who attacked the police were terrorists and such elements will not be allowed to challenge the writ of the state. The prime minister also ordered to the law enforcing agencies (LEAs) to stop march of the protestors be stopped before reaching to Jehlum. The prime minister also told the cabinet that the government will not accept any unlawful demand of any banned group like TLP .
Information minister, Fawad Hussain Chaudhary , said those who attacked the police, leaving 6 policemen martyred and 59 seriously injured will not be spared. He said no one can blackmail the state and warned to the banned outfit that it should not go ahead with its anti- state agenda. He said banned outfit was a terror group and its people will be treated under the same law.
Inspector general Punjab Police also held a press conference and said the protestors were involved in firing at the police . He said the protestors firing claimed lives of 4 police personne,l besides leaving 240 injured.
Meanwhile, the protestors were not bugging down to any warning of the government and instead pushing at different points at grand trunk road in central Punjab.