Daily Times

The federal government on Monday announced to deploy Pakistan Army in Islamabad Capital Territory, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) in the wake of coronavirus outbreak in the country.

According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Interior, the deployment has been made on the request of the departments concerned by exercising the power conferred under Article 245 of the constitution and Section 131A of CrPC 1898.

The notification stated that it is being authorised for deployment of sufficient strength of troops of Pakistan Army in ICT, all provinces and AJK depending upon the requirement to be worked out by the departments in liaison with the army authorities in connection with the prevailing situation related to the spread of COVID-19 and matters ancillary thereto, subject laws enforced in the country.

Hours later, Pakistan Army said it will help to impose nationwide restrictions to contain the spread of the coronavirus following a request from the government. “The army chief of staff has ordered the deployment of all available troops and medical resources according to requirements,” Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Babar Iftikhar told media. “The task to curb coronavirus is an enormous task and it is time to take hard decisions at common, individual and societal level as the outbreak can be coped with national cohesion and integration only,” he said. “Border between individual and coronavirus needs to be protected,” he added.

Major General Babar Iftikhar said the armed forces are aware of their role and are standing behind the nation to contain the threat of COVID-19. “Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, despite engagement of Pakistan Army on the Line of Control and the western border, has directed the available troops and medical resources of the armed forces to be deputed as per the requirement in the country,” he said. In the recent Corps Commander Conference, the preparations made by the armed forces to assist district administration and action plan for dealing with COVID-19 outbreak were reviewed, he said. “Around one million passengers have been screened out so far, whereas in the past 24 hours, 12,000 tests for coronavirus have been conducted and best defence isolation against COVID-19 set up,” he added.

He said the COAS has announced to donate his one-month salary for the relief fund to be established for the rehabilitation of poor masses amid lockdown due to the pandemic. He said the brigadier rank officers will contribute three-day salary, colonel rank officer two-day salary, and GOC and lower rank officers will donate one-day amount of their salaries to the fund.

Major General Babar Iftikhar urged the people to cooperate with Pakistan Army and the government by following guidelines issued to prevent coronavirus spread. The public should behave like responsible citizens through following the instructions of the doctors in this regard, he said. The government, he said, has sought the deployment of army in the country under Article 245 of the constitution. “The world has witnessed our resolve and determination during the 2005 earthquake, floods and war against terrorism. Our brave national will overcome this challenge in solidarity with the armed forces,” he added. The DG ISPR said the provincial governments will issue further guidelines which should be implemented. “Pakistan is facing the serious challenge of COVID-19 where the nation has to unite again for a safe country as it did for a separate country in 1940,” he said, and also congratulated the nation especially the countrymen inhabiting across the world on Pakistan Day. “Almost 80 years back on this day, our ancestors had set the direction for a destination and made an impossible thing possible by achieving the milestone of one nation one destination-Pakistan.” He noted that it is the day to remember and pay tribute to those great founding fathers for an independent country and two nation theory that had proved to be true before the world. “The heirs of those ancestors are facing a new challenge, a calamity that has engulfed the entire world. Today is the day to remember our Kashmiri brethren facing the worst state terrorism and natural disaster of COVID-19 that has left the most developed countries helpless,” he said. Kashmiris are still resisting for their just right to self-determination amid coronavirus outbreak, he added. As per the federal and provincial governments’ steps taken to control the spread of coronavirus eateries, household items shops, medical stores and medical equipment manufacturing units would open. However, there would be a complete ban on all educational institutions, public gatherings, unnecessary movements, shopping malls, restaurants, swimming pools, marriage halls and cinemas. The intercity transport will be used only for food supplies whereas all sorts of transportation would remain closed within the cities, he said, adding that all international airports will be closed till April 4 whereas petrol stations and fruit and vegetables markets will be opened on selective days set by the provincial governments.