ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Saturday asked the government to summon joint session of parliament to brief the legislators about invoking Article 245 in the federal capital.
“If some sensitive matters are involved which cannot be shared openly then the government also has the option to summon in-camera session to brief the parliamentarians about the need of invoking this article in Islamabad,” PPP senior lawmaker Senator Raza Rabbani shared with The Nation.
The PPP leader said that PML-N government has taken a big step with the imposition of Article 245 hence the parliamentarians have full right to be taken into confidence about its ramifications. “The government should clarify its position about this step as there are certain anomalies in it.”
PPP senior lawmakers predict that it will create confusion at the time of lifting the Article 245 in the country as how the government will free any under-investigation suspects from their custody after the three months.
The decision to call in army was taken by the federal government last month to ‘back up’ civil administration to tighten ‘security’. Rabbani said “The government should also inform about the ‘fact’ how the politicians are in danger.” The government should clear all these mysteries behind the purpose of invoking this article, he added.
The PPP is putting immense pressure on government for allegedly dragging the armed forces to secure her political position. The major opposition party has also submitted an adjournment motion in the National Assembly Secretariat to discuss the article in length by the parliamentarians.
When asked the National Assembly (NA) session has already been summoned on August 4, Rabbani said that government could call joint session of the parliament to discuss important national matter any time. “There are certain examples of calling joint session of parliament in past.”
The article-245, imposed for three months, says ‘the armed forces shall, under the directions of the federal government, defend Pakistan against external aggression or threat of war, and, subject to law, act in aid of civil power when called upon to do so’.