ISLAMABAD- Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) core committee has clarified that under any circumstances it will not accept the incumbent government decision of invoking Article 245 calling in the army in support
of the federal government in Islamabad.
Democratic sitting government should not resort to Article 245 as it effectively signals an admission of failure to govern and maintain law and order to protect the citizens. While the nation is very clear the PML-N government has failed on all fronts, for the PML-N government itself to concede its failure to protect the capital and its citizens and sensitive installations, is a direct admission of its failure. It is also a clear sign that the PML-N government is, in desperation, trying to hide its rigging in May 2013 elections and PTI's expose of the same, by seeking to use Article 245.
If the PML-N government was seeking to place the PTI's Azadi March in direct confrontation with the army, that was a dangerous tactic and also futile because PTI has always had a culture of peaceful protests and Marches. It is unethical and unacceptable for the PML-N government to try and draw in the army into what is clearly a democratic political protest March. Also, the army is a national institution not a tool for the PML-N to use against its political opponents.
If the government thinks of using Article 245 again for Islamabad during August14, PTI reserves the right to go to the SC.
PTI's core committee, also pointed out that the PML-N's own Long March took place just before the Swat Operation and they then claimed it was their democratic right. No Article 245 was invoked at the time.