Pakistan deploys army to quell Islamist violence in Islamabad

According to Geo TV, the Ministry of Interior on Saturday night issued a statutory regulatory order (SRO) authorizing the deployment of the Pakistan Army in aid of civil power to control law and order in the Islamabad Capital Territory.

The Geo TV portal quoting sources said the decision to summon the army was taken by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and the interior ministry issued the notification after the premier's approval.

Reports said the government stopped live coverage of the protest and blcoked social media sites. 

According to reports, the operation against protesters was suspended at approximately 2:30 PM Pakistan time but the situation remained tense in capital Islamabad.

Earlier reports said a policeman was killed and over 200 people were injured as security forces fought on streets with Islamist hardliners during a protest sit-in that virtually laid a siege on Islamabad on Saturday.

Pakistan's Geo News quoted police as saying that the cop suffered a deadly blow to the head in I-8/4 sector as protesters pelted stones at security officials during the operation at Faizabad interchange.

Dawn and Geo News reported that there are prison vans, ambulances at the site.

Helicopters and drones are being used by the authorities for aerial surveillance.

Police have also used water cannons to disperse the protesters after the capital was paralysed due to the sit-in which has been ongoing for almost three weeks.

The protesters in retaliation are throwing stones at the security men.

Dawn said the sit-in was being conducted by religious parties since November 8.

According to reports, dozens of protesters have been detained.

The operation was commenced on court orders following the expiry of the midnight deadline set by the district administration.

Dawn said almost 8,000 security personnel started operation at 7 am after last deadline ended on Saturday.

The sit-in by the little-known hardline group called Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah Pakistan has blocked Faizabad interchange used by thousands of commuters.

The protesters are demanding that law minister Zahid Hamid resign over a hastily-abandoned amendment to the oath that election candidates must swear.

Demonstrators have linked it to blasphemy.

The operation was started on order of Prime Minister as Interior Minister presented him whole situation. The premier allowed operation to fulfill Islamabad High Court orders.

According to Waqt News, the security forces had dispersed half of protesters from sit-in while all protesters were dispersed from Faizabad interchange.

The protesters however spread to dozens of different points as more people from twin cities come to the protest.

The security forces could not arrest the sit-in leadership including Khadim Hussain Rizvi till now. The protesters have surrounded leadership and stopping police and Rangers.

Meanwhile,  Pakistan Electronic Media Regulating Authority (PEMRA) has issued coverage notice for electronic media and all satellite TV channels, the reports said.