Centre snubs Sindh govt over Rangers’ issue, tells it to fall in line

• Federal Interior Ministry rejects restrictions on Rangers’ powers, extends their special powers for 60 days only
• Ministry tells Sindh govt to draft a new summary regarding the matter without posting any conditions
• NA Opp leader Khurshid Shah warns federal govt of serious consequences of ‘unilateral’ decisions
• Says Interior Minister Nisar did not consult Sindh CM before announcing 60-day extension in Rangers’ special powers

A meeting of senior officials of the Federal Interior Ministry after much deliberation on Tuesday gave a 60-day extension in the special policing powers of Rangers in Sindh.

The summary sent to the federal government by Sindh government on the matter of extending Ranger’s policing powers was earlier rejected.

A letter was also issued to the Sindh government in this regard on Tuesday, instructing it to draft a new summary regarding the matter without posting any conditions.

“The provincial assembly does not reserve the authority to amend the federal laws,” the Interior Ministry said in a statement.

The above mentioned decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali khan at Punjab House.

The meeting was held to discuss the implications the said summary and devise the further course of action by Interior Ministry in this regard.

During the meeting, the summary regarding the extension in authority of the Pakistan Rangers was thoroughly discussed.
“It is not possible to limit the authority of any law-enforcing agency,” the Interior Ministry stated, adding that the power to limit the special powers of Rangers is reserved only by the federal government.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah had earlier signed the summary to ‘conditionally’ extend the special powers of Pakistan Rangers in the province for 60 days and moved the summary to the Interior Ministry.
Special powers given to Rangers under the Anti-Terrorism Act had expired on December 5 and the Sindh government has been reluctant to extend them.
PPP REFUSES TO ACCEPT DECISION:
Meanwhile, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has rejected the federal government’s decision, saying the Centre was attacking provinces’ autonomy by forcing its decision on them.
In a statement, PPP spokesman Senator Farhatullah Babar said that the PPP will not submit to the federation’s decision of extending full policing powers to Rangers.
“Under the constitution’s Article 147, provinces are empowered to limit powers of any federal agency working in the province. This action of the federal government will endanger the Federation as it is a blatant violation of the constitution,” he said.
Expressing his dismay over the Interior Ministry’s decision, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khurshid Shah said that such unilateral decision without consulting Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah will not be in favour of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
Reacting to the decision of the Interior Ministry regarding extension in Rangers power in Sindh for further two months under Anti-Terrorism Act, Khurshid Shah said that such an approach of the federal government towards small provinces is unjustified.
He said federal government should enforce whatever it desires, but warned of dire consequences of such decisions in future.
The opposition leader in NA lashed out at Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali for not making any contact with CM Sindh Qaim Ali Shah to inform him about the development, seek his opinion and hold discussion prior to announcing extension in Ranger’s power in the province led by the latter.
Reacting to the Interior Ministry’s decision, Sindh Finance Minister Murad Ali Shah said that federal government has taken an ‘unconstitutional’ step.
Talking to media, Shah also rejected Chaudhry Nisar’s earlier claim that the federal government is providing Rs 9 billion for Rangers’ expenses in Sindh.
“This claim of providing Sindh a sum of Rs 9 billion annually for Rangers is incorrect,” said the provincial finance minister.
Advisor to Sindh CM on Information Maula Bux Chandio said that the federation is overtaking Sindh Assembly’s authority.
“We have full confidence in Rangers, our objection is upon the federation,” said Chandio.
He was of the view that the problems created for provinces by the federation will also have impacts on federation.
Interior Ministry responds:
The Interior Ministry, while replying to Murad Ali Shah’s claim, said that Interior Minister Nisar had never claimed that the amount spent on Rangers in Sindh is given directly to Sindh government.
The statement released by Interior Ministry asserts that the federation spends Rs 9 billion annually on paramilitary force in Sindh and the details regarding the expenditure will be released in the newspapers.
About the recent move to grant Rangers policing powers, the ministry maintained that if anyone has objection towards the move, he or she can access the court.
Earlier on Monday, the chief of the paramilitary force vowed that there would be no let-up in actions under the ‘Karachi operation’ and it would continue at the same pace “till its logical end”.
It said that under the National Action Plan and the Anti-Terrorism Act, Rangers had the mandate to conduct targeted operation against elements involved in four heinous crimes — terrorism, targeted killing, kidnapping for ransom and extortion, but the paramilitary force overstepped its authority by raiding government offices, arresting officials and seizing official records.