KARACHI – Taking a U-turn on its earlier stance, the Sindh government claimed that the Rangers’ action in Orangi Town was never an “operation” to start with and that is why there was no point in seeking formal permission from the provincial authorities for this purpose.
“Reports about the Rangers’ operation in Karachi were wrong and baseless because no operation was carried out and therefore it was pointless to seek permission for the action,” said Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah while talking to a delegation of the PML-Q led by its chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain at the Chief Minister’s House.
“The Rangers had conducted action in an area and arrested some suspicious people under the powers assigned to them,” an official handout issued from the Chief Minister’s House quoted Shah as saying. It is pertinent to mention that the chief minister’s statement has come a day after PML-F Pir Pagara’s remarks in which he said that as the civil administration has failed, the law and order situation in Karachi could improve if martial law is imposed in the city.
The chief minister told the PML-Q leaders that the overall law and order situation in the Karachi is under control as the government’s steps taken in consultation with the MQM and ANP have produced positive results. It is pertinent to mention here that Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza had opposed the Rangers’ action in Orangi Town during an interview and while speaking on the floor of the Sindh Assembly.
He had categorically said that neither he or the chief minister, nor the police heads of the province and Karachi were informed or taken into confidence on the Rangers’ action in Orangi Town. The PML-Q delegation included the party’s secretary general Mushahid Hussain, MNA Ghous Bux Maher, Senator Seemi Siddiqi, Haleem Adil Shaikh, Sardar Iqbal Khan, Khan Bahadur Shar and Shaikh Iqbal.
Sindh Education and Literacy Minister Pir Mazharul Haq and Adviser to Chief Minister Siddiq Abu Bhai were also present on the occasion. The PML-Q leaders held a series of meetings during their three-day stay in Karachi in an effort to “restore peace in the city”. During the meetings, they met leaders of different political parties including the MQM, the ANP, Sunni Tehreek and the JUP.
