The federal government granted 90-day extension to Punjab Rangers in the federal capital, according to a notification issued by the interior ministry on Monday.
Per details, the extension was granted on the request of Islamabad chief commissioner under Section-4 (2) of Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. At present, around 2,000 personnel of Rangers and 50 contingents of Gilgit-Baltistan Scouts are deployed in different areas of the federal capital.
In addition, 350 personnel of Pakistan Army were also stationed in the capital to support the civilian government. It is important to mention here that army troops have been deployed in the capital under Article 245 of the Constitution since 2014.
Since the past few years, Rangers and Frontier Constabulary (FC) have been deployed in the capital to aid police in keeping the city secure from threats. The main responsibility of the security forces personnel was to perform patrolling duties and provide support to the police in securing important buildings and events in sensitive parts of the city. Rangers personnel were also deployed at the Parliament House whenever the National Assembly or the Senate was in session.
Nonetheless, it was reported last month that the Rangers had stopped performing security duties around the Parliament House a few days after the paramilitary force was deployed at the accountability court complex, where Nawaz Sharif was scheduled to appear before the court. In the much publicised events that followed, personnel of the paramilitary force had prevented news reporters, lawyers, and high-profile cabinet members, including Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, from entering the court premises.
Later, the interior minister ordered an official investigation into the events, which was aimed to seek an explanation from Rangers director general (DG) as to why the paramilitary force took control of the accountability court complex when the civil administration had not sought its services to secure the area.
This year in April, the federal government had granted an extension to Rangers deployed around Punjab. The order came 60 days after the Cabinet Committee for Law and Order gave recommendations seeking the extension in policing powers of Rangers.
It merits mention here that Rangers were deployed in Punjab in February this year to support the civilian setup in maintaining law and order situation of the capital city, and other sensitive areas of the province.
