ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Tuesday ordered that “comprehensive security measures” be taken for a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Council of Foreign Ministers (OIC-CFM) and the Pakistan Day parade scheduled to take place in Islamabad next week, the Pakistani military said.
The 48th session of the OIC-CFM will be held in Islamabad on March 22-23, for which at least 46 OIC foreign ministers or representatives have confirmed their participation. All heads of the visiting delegations have also been invited to witness the Pakistan Day parade on March 23 as "guests of honor."
The parade is held every year to commemorate the Lahore Resolution, which was adopted on the same day in 1940 and laid the foundation for a Muslim-majority state in South Asia.
On Tuesday, the army chief presided over a corps commanders' conference in Rawalpindi to review important global and regional developments as well as the internal security situation.
“COAS [Chief of Army Staff] directed that comprehensive security measures be ensured for peaceful conduct of OIC Council of Foreign Ministers meeting and Pakistan Day Parade,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military's media wing, said in a statement.
“The forum expressed resolve to take all requisite measures to ensure security of the country.”
Pakistan has witnessed intense political turmoil since the opposition filed a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan last week, accusing his administration of misgovernance.
Khan has vowed to gather a “sea of people” in front of parliament on March 27 ahead of the no-trust proceedings in the National Assembly of Pakistan.
In response to his call, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who is heading the opposition alliance, has asked supporters to embark on a long march towards the capital on March 23.
