Rangers get powers for Karachi only

KARACHI/ISLAMABAD: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Monday, in a bid to end the persisting tense relations and row between the Sindh government and the Rangers, signed the summaries for extending the stay of the Sindh Rangers in the province by one year and to extend the special policing powers of the paramilitary force in Karachi for 90 days.

The federal government, meanwhile, expressed its resentment over the provincial government for not extending the Rangers’ policing powers to the whole Sindh.

The terms of both special policing powers of the Sindh Rangers in Karachi under the Anti-Terrorism Act and the stay of the paramilitary force in the province in aid of civil administration and the police had ended on 19 July, 2016.  

Previously, the Sindh government had extended in May 2016 the special policing powers of the Sindh Rangers in Karachi for 77 days while the term of stay of the Rangers in the province in aid of the civil administration and police had been extended for a year in July 2015.

Apart from straining relations between the Sindh government and the Rangers, the lingering issue regarding the stay and special powers of the Sindh Rangers also strained relations between the provincial authorities belonging to the PPP government and the interior minister in Islamabad as the latter repeatedly called for immediate extension in the special powers of the Sindh Rangers for the sake of the continuity of the ongoing targeted operation in Karachi against terrorists and lawless elements.

The other day, during a meeting with Syed Murad Ali Shah in Dubai, Pakistan People’s Party Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari directed him to resolve the issue regarding powers of the Sindh Rangers at the earliest after completing legal consultation on the issue.

Under the special policing powers derived from the Anti-Terrorism Act, the Rangers could conduct raids, detain and investigate people suspected of being terrorists. The powers of the Sindh Rangers to detain people suspected to have links with terrorism for a period of 90 days to interrogate them had already ended as the Protection of Pakistan Act had lapsed after passage of its sanctioned two-year term.

Meanwhile, presiding over a meeting on law and order here at the CM House on Monday, the new Sindh CM said that Pakistan Rangers and police have done a wonderful job by restoring peace in the city. 

“We must appreciate their struggle and sacrifices for restoring law & order in the province,” he said and addedthat their role in eradication of terrorism and target killings and crackdown on extortionists was no doubt commendable.

On the occasion, the Sindh Chief Secretary, Siddique Memon, gave the chief minister a summary under which the Home Department had recommended the extension in the stay of Pakistan Rangers in Sindh for another one year and granting special power to the paramilitary force for 90 days in the city of Karachi.

The chief minister approved the summary forthwith and directed the chief secretary to coordinate with the federal government for issuing a notification at the earliest in this regard.

The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Siddique Memon, Inspector-General of Sindh Police, A D Khawaja, Home Secretary Riaz Hussain Soomro and others.

The IG police briefed the chief minister on the overall law and order situation and invited him to visit the police headquarters. The chief minister accepted the invitation.

Meanwhile, Advisor to Sindh Chief Minister on Information, Moula Bux Chandio, said that Rangers’ special powers issue had been resolved amicably that would help maintain law and order in Sindh province.

Meanwhile, addressing a press conference in Islamabad at the Punjab House, Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan expressed Centre’s resentment for not extending Rangers’ policing powers to the whole Sindh. He said that that if the paramilitary force’s policing powers were not approved for the whole province then they will consider other options in this regard.

While pining hopes with incumbent Chief Minister of Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah, the minister said that the issue of Rangers’ policing powers in Sindh will be a settled with sharp progress in awarding Rangers an extension in their policing powers.

Commenting killing of several police and military personal in Karachi and Larkana, the minister said that lineage culprits have not yet been traced. “The paramilitary force has to have legal cover as they curb activities of criminals in the city.”

“So far 31 personnel of security forces have been killed in Karachi operation. The operation has not come at an easy price,” the interior minister added.

He said Rangers personnel in Karachi are carrying out operation with consent of the Sindh government and the federal government and Rangers extension issue in Sindh will not be politicised and controversies on extension issue of Rangers will not be allow to turn into political football.

The interior minister said that people from all over Pakistan have supported Karachi operation as this operation has put positive implications Karachi situation.

Nisar said that he got the information from the media that Rangers’ powers had been extended. The minister said security forces have put their lives on stake and their sacrifices should not be played upon for seeking political mileage. “We hope the extension of Rangers’ policing powers does not continue to be delayed.”

—Shakeel Anjum reported from Islamabad

 —Originally published in The News