Sindh Rangers special policing powers in Karachi expired at midnight on July 19 as a summary sent to the Chief Minister of Sindh in this regard awaits the approval of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) top leadership currently based in Dubai.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah had earlier said that he will sign on the summary of special powers for Rangers after consultation with the People’s Party leadership.
The Sindh government had previously extended the power of the paramilitary force from May 4 to July 19.
A summary seeking 90-day extension in Rangers’ special powers was forwarded to the chief minister on Monday.
Under the National Action Plan and the Anti-Terrorism Act, the federal cabinet had empowered the Rangers to lead a targeted operation in Karachi with the support of police against criminals involved in targeted killings, kidnappings for ransom, extortion and terrorism.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has also written a letter to Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah to use his discretionary powers to extend the powers of the Rangers.
He said that a further delay in the issuance of notification will severely affect the ongoing operation and hamper the efforts of the paramilitary force against terrorists and criminals in the metropolitan city.
Nisar said that the operation was initiated after taking all stakeholders on board including the federal and provincial governments and the instructions from the court.
Earlier, the Director-General Rangers Maj Gen. Bilal Akbar had called the interior minister and discussed about the delay in issuance of notification to extend their powers to conduct the operation in Karachi.
Karachi has long been gripped by violence, with attacks carried out by militants as well as criminal gangs and militant wings of rival political parties. The Rangers operation was launched in September 2013 in the metropolis to curb crimes in the port city.
A recent controversy between the provincial home department and Rangers authorities said to be a key hurdle in extension of special powers to the Rangers.
