ISLAMABAD, (DNA) – Hours after the government called out the army after an abortive operation to disperse protesters from Islamabad’s Faizabad Interchange, the military has asked for clarifications over a few matters before they step in.

In its reply to the Interior Ministry, a statement issued by the General Headquarters said the army is ready to fully “perform the assigned task in line with its constitutional obligations a few aspects meriting prior to employment of army”.

On Saturday, a notification issued by the Ministry of Interior had said a sufficient number of troops, to be determined by the Commander of the 111 Brigade, were being deployed in the capital to assist civil authorities in maintaining law and order. The troops have been deployed in aid of civil power under Article 245 of the Constitution and will remain in Islamabad until further order.

The army’s statement listed down three key points.

The army pointed out that the police has not been “optimally utilized” while dealing with the protesters of Tehreek-e-Labaik.

It further stated that the Rangers have not been given written instructions for their deployment in contrast to the agreement that a written order would be required for their deployment.

Citing the Islamabad High Court order, the communique also said that the high court had barred the use of firearms against the protestors and calling the army in implies the use of force. The statement has then asked for a clarification on the matter.

a meeting between army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi is expected to take place later in the day.

The chief of army staff (COAS) called up the premier on Saturday to advise him against the use of power over the protestors.

In a tweet, DG ISPR Asif Ghafoor had stated that violence would be against national interest and cohesion and quoting the COAS said the issue should be resolved peacefully.

The desperate government had called out the army after an abortive operation to disperse hundreds of activists of a religious group camping at an arterial traffic intersection of the federal capital since the start of this month.

Earlier on Saturday, the authorities finally launched an operation to retrieve Faizabad intersection from Tehreek-e-Labbaik protesters after weeks of negotiations and nudging by the courts, but the police action only multiplied the government’s problems amid a worsening law and order situation in Islamabad and other cities.

At the end of the day, at least six protesters had been confirmed dead, while more than 200 people – including protesters and law enforcers – were injured. All six fatalities took place in Rawalpindi and four of the deceased were identified as Zohaib, Jahanzeb, Irfan and Adeel. The other two were yet to be identified.