Army chief General Raheel Sharif has appointed Major General Bilal Akbar as the new Director General of Sindh Rangers.
According to a statement released by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Maj Gen Bilal Akbar will take charge of his new responsibilities in August. Maj Gen Rizwan Akhtar will continue to work as DG Rangers Sindh until Bilal Akbar takes charge from him in August.
The appointment comes in the wake of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM)’s reservations over the handling of the Karachi operation by the Sindh Rangers. The party has been alleging extra-judicial killings of its workers and claims that only it is being targeted in the operation launched on the orders of the federal government.
MQM chief Altaf Hussain discussed the issue at length with Karachi Corps Commander Lt Gen Sajjad Ghani on the telephone on Friday night, and the corps commander assured Altaf that steps would be taken to make the operation impartial and all complaints would be thoroughly investigated.
“During the conversation it was also decided to form a six-member committee comprising three MQM members and three representatives of the law-enforcement agencies,” the MQM had said in a statement on Friday.
“The committee will look into every complaint and action will be taken against those found involved in breaking the law, irrespective of their affiliation.”
The MQM statement concluded that the Karachi corps commander listened to Altaf Hussain’s complaint as an “impartial, honest and committed” officer.
