Islamabad, Hilal Ahmad, 26 November, AZERTAC

Several Pakistani security personnel were killed and many others injured in capital Islamabad on Tuesday as a vehicle of miscreants ran over them during a protest by the opposition. According to reports, the attacks on law enforcement have so far claimed the lives of four Rangers and two police officers. Dozens of police personnel have been injured; many of them are stated to be in a critical condition.

According to initial reports, at least four Pakistan Rangers personnel were martyred and five others, including policemen, were injured after being hit by a vehicle in the city. The Pakistani authorities have deployed the army under Article 245 of the Constitution In the capital city of Islamabad. The Interior Ministry has issued a notification invoking Article 245, allowing the military to assist in maintaining order and deal with the miscreants with an iron hand.

The situation in the city and adjoining areas escalated late last night when a protest rally entered the federal capital. The volatile situation in Islamabad remains a critical security challenge as the protests continue to disrupt the city and other areas of Pakistan. All the educational institutions have been shut in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi due to the prevailing situation.

The Pakistani President, Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif have strongly condemned the killing of the security personnel as the vehicles of the protestors mowed them down on a road in Islamabad. They expressed deep grief over the martyrdom of security personnel in the incident.

The Prime Minister said attacking the police and Rangers in the name of so-called protests is condemnable. He said that the insurgent group is deliberately targeting the law enforcement agencies that are deployed to maintain peace in the city.

It is worth mentioning that the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had directed earlier the authorities concerned not to allow the opposition to stage demonstrations in the federal capital in violation of the newly enacted peaceful assembly law. The protests coincide with the visit of the Belarusian president from November 25 to 27. The protests, ongoing since November 24, demand the release of a former Prime Minister.

Islamabad has been under lockdown from the last many days due to the protests and highways connecting the capital with the rest of the country are almost closed. The authorities have used containers to block major roads in Islamabad, most of them patrolled by police and paramilitary personnel.

The protest began on Sunday and at many places in the capital police used tear gas shells to disperse the protesters. In a bid to foil the protest, police have arrested hundreds of protesters during the last few days. On Thursday, a court prohibited rallies in the capital and the Interior Minister said anyone violating the ban would be arrested.