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Red Zone security handed over to army: Nisar
ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to hand over security of the Red Zone in the federal capital to the Pakistan Army and other security agencies including the police and Rangers would also be present, announced Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan during a news conference on Tuesday.
"The army will assume security of the Red Zone within the next few hours," Nisar said, adding that a formal request was made in this regard. He said army troops will guard key buildings located on Constitutional Avenue.
The interior minister also categorically denied that the army was behind the present political crisis in the country. “Whoever is behind all this (long marches), I can categorically say the army is not behind this game.”
Nisar once again invited the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) to the negotiating table to resolve the prevailing political crisis. "For the sake of democracy and future of Pakistan, we once again extend invitation of negotiations," he said.
"I agree with Imran Khan as far as his opposition to monarchy is concerned," the interior minister said while recalling his friendship with the former cricket hero who led a long march from Lahore to the federal capital.
“We gave permission for long marches on some conditions, government is in possession of an agreement which Imran signed,” he added.
Nisar said that the government was ready for vote recount in 20 constituencies. “We didn't arrange the elections so those who did should be held responsible,” he said.
He added: “Imran Khan made a rebellious speech on August 17 in which he called for civil disobedience”
“Government has decided to let both the protesting parties adopt political course,” Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said.
Courtesy www.thenews.com.pk