ISLAMABAD: The Federal Ministry of Interior has decided to deploy the Pakistan Army across the country to cater any emergency like situation during Muharram-ul-Haram.

According to the ministry, troops will be stationed in all four provinces, as well as in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, to ensure law and order during the Muharram.

The decision follows formal requests from provincial governments and Gilgit-Baltistan authorities for military assistance in maintaining security.

The Interior Ministry has also issued a notification approving the deployment of the army in Islamabad.

Troops will be deployed under Sections 4 and 5 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. The scale and duration of deployments will be determined by local authorities based on on-ground security assessments, in consultation with federal and provincial stakeholders.

Ashura, marking the 10th of Muharram, will fall on July 6 this year.

According to the notification, the army will perform security duties to assist civil institutions.