After Islamabad, the Punjab government has also called in the Pakistan Army to assist in maintaining peace and order across the province, particularly during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) conference.
A notification regarding the deployment of the army has been issued, outlining the rules governing their services.
The decision was made during a meeting of the Special Committee for Law and Order of Punjab, which approved the move to ensure security during the conference and to manage law and order across key cities. Copies of the notification have been sent to the General Headquarters (GHQ) and all Corps Headquarters in Punjab, confirming the army's role in supporting the civil armed forces and police.
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The Pakistan Army troops will provide security to the foreign delegations arriving for the SCO Conference and aid civil armed forces and the police. The army will be deployed at strategic locations across Punjab, including airports, routes of foreign delegations, and their residences, as per the notification.
The final decision on specific deployment locations will be taken by local army commanders in consultation with police authorities. The army personnel will also have the authority to open fire in an emergency situation, according to the notification.
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In addition to providing security for the SCO conference, the army will also be stationed in Lahore, Attock and Rawalpindi to maintain law and order. According to a notification issued by the Punjab Home Department, the army may be called in to maintain security in Attock and Rawalpindi in the wake of the SCO conference.
The Punjab Home Department has emphasized that Pakistan Army personnel will have the authority to take emergency action, including the use of firearms if necessary.
The deployment is set to take place immediately, with army personnel taking positions across the province.
