The interim Punjab government and the Islamabad administration have decided to withdraw the army from the province and the federal capital, a month after it was called in to assist them in maintaining law and order. No decision has so far been taken for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“I am further directed to request that the said troops/assets of Pakistan Army may kindly be de-requisitioned with immediate effect under intimation to this department, please,” said the notification issued by the Home Department of Punjab on Saturday.

The army was called in the province and the federal capital to assist the authorities in maintaining the law and order situation, which deteriorated on May 9 in the wake of PTI chief Imran Khan’s arrest by paramilitary forces.

Many people attacked state buildings and military installations in Lahore, prompting the government to call in the army under Article 245 of the Constitution.

The law empowers the authorities to have armed forces in aid of civil power to defend the country against external aggression or threat of war, and subject to the law.

“The situation is now satisfactory in the ICT and it is, therefore, requested that the requisition made vide above referred letter may be de-notified, in the best interest of public,” said Rana Waqas Anwar, the additional commissioner of ICT, in a notification.