Pakistan Rangers Sindh Director General (DG) Maj Gen Ijaz Chaudhry has demanded the government to extend the paramilitary force’s special powers until durable peace could be ensured in Karachi. Addressing a press conference at the Rangers’ Sindh headquarters, Chaudhry said that foreign hands are behind the recent killings in the metropolitan, and that the interrogation of notorious criminal Ajmal Pahari is its proof. In light of the escalated targeted killings in the city, the provincial government extended the Rangers’ policing powers last month under Section 5 of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Rangers’ policing powers in the metropolis have been extended every three months since January last year.
The paramilitary force has been authorised to eradicate no-go areas across the city as well as carry out snap-checking without any warrants.
The Rangers have powers to take any kind of action against target killers and extortion mafia to curb the ongoing violence. The paramilitary force is taking action against criminals without any discrimination or political pressure, the DG said. He said that a large quantity of weapons is stored not only at Kati Pahari, but also in other parts of the metropolitan.
The Rangers would conduct raids in every area of the city on the basis of intelligence shared by the agencies and peace would be restored soon, he added.
