Police and Rangers personnel on Friday evening temporarily surrounded the residence of Sindh Home Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal in what appeared to be a move to arrest Asad Kharal and Tariq Siyal, an issue that has struck a row between the paramilitary force and the Sindh provincial government.
A large contingent of police and Rangers personnel arrived near the residence of the provincial home minister on Friday evening, with paramilitary personnel thoroughly checking any passersby.
Sources said that the law enforcers were closely monitoring all entry and exit routes leading to and from the home minister’s house.
But, only a few hours later, the law enforcers ended the cordon and left the area.
Some sources said that over 10 close aides of Tariq Siyal and Asad Kharal have already been arrested from different parts of Larkana.
The row between the Rangers and the provincial government erupted after an earlier incident in Larkana, when the Sindh home minister’s brother, Tariq Siyal, allegedly challenged the state writ.
Earlier this week, Rangers arrested Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) worker Asad Kharal, who is accused of corruption worth millions of rupees and acting as a ‘front-man’ for a key personality in the Sindh provincial government.
He was later set free by his supporters who fought the Rangers, raising serious questions about the handling of law and order in the province.
Earlier in an official statement on Friday, Director General (DG) Rangers Major General Bilal Akbar said the Karachi operation has extended to other parts of Sindh.
“Criminals take kidnapped hostages to rural Sindh. The operation will target every criminal,” the DG Rangers said.
In the last few weeks, the paramilitary has carried out several search operations in various parts of Sindh.
The operation against criminal elements in Karachi, Pakistan’s commercial hub, was initiated in September 2013 after the federal cabinet empowered Rangers to lead a targeted advance with the support of police.
Since then, the Rangers powers have been extended every few months by the provincial government when they expire.
