Islamabad Seeks 10-Day Extension of Rangers Deployment Until October 15
Islamabad Seeks 10-Day Extension of Rangers Deployment Until October 15
ISLAMABAD: The capital’s administration has formally asked the Interior Ministry to extend the Rangers deployment in Islamabad by 10 days, keeping 3,000 Pakistan Rangers personnel in the city until October 15 as it prepares for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s planned long march on October 4.
The chief commissioner’s office sent a letter to the ministry requesting that the “provision of 3,000 personnel of Pakistan Rangers” be continued in the federal capital. The existing authorisation for the paramilitary deployment runs out on October 5.
The request was made on Saturday, a day before the PTI’s march is due to set off from Lakki Marwat in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Security in and around the capital has been tightening for weeks, with containers placed at key entry points and Section 144 in force across the city.
Rangers deployment in Islamabad: where the troops are posted
Pakistan Rangers personnel are currently stationed in Islamabad and in the Punjab districts of Attock, Rawalpindi and Jhelum, according to official sources. Additional units in Mianwali, Lahore and other areas have been placed on alert.
The paramilitary force was earlier authorised to remain deployed until October 5. If the Interior Ministry approves the chief commissioner’s request, the troops will stay in position for 10 more days, covering the period of the planned march and its immediate aftermath.
The Rangers are deployed in aid of the civil administration to maintain law and order, a routine arrangement during periods of expected political mobilisation in the capital.
Security review followed Corps Commanders’ Conference
The extension request follows a security review at the highest level. The 277th Corps Commanders’ Conference, held in Rawalpindi on October 2, reviewed the country’s internal security situation and reaffirmed the military leadership’s resolve to maintain stability and deal with attempts to create unrest in accordance with the law.
Islamabad Police had earlier sought thousands of additional personnel from Punjab and Sindh to reinforce the capital ahead of the protest. The Punjab government has also requested Rangers and army deployments in several of its own districts through the first week of October.
What happens next
The Interior Ministry is expected to decide on the extension request shortly. Meanwhile, a second round of talks between the government and the PTI is scheduled for Saturday afternoon at Parliament House, after both sides described the first round as constructive.
The government has asked the PTI to postpone or call off the march, while the opposition party insists it will proceed as planned. The decision on the Rangers extension will be read as a signal of how the authorities expect the coming days to unfold.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Islamabad seeking an extension of the Rangers deployment?
The capital’s administration wants 3,000 Pakistan Rangers personnel to remain deployed until October 15, ten days beyond the current October 5 authorisation, ahead of the PTI’s planned October 4 long march on Islamabad.
How many Rangers personnel are currently deployed in the capital?
Three thousand personnel, according to the chief commissioner’s letter to the Interior Ministry. They are posted in Islamabad as well as in Attock, Rawalpindi and Jhelum, with further units on alert in Mianwali, Lahore and other areas.
What did the Corps Commanders’ Conference decide on October 2?
The 277th Corps Commanders’ Conference in Rawalpindi reviewed the country’s security situation and reaffirmed the military leadership’s resolve to maintain internal stability and respond to attempts to create unrest within the bounds of the law.
