Rangers’ powers: Crunch meeting likely to ease controversy

Karachi corps commander, Sindh CM discuss issue

KARACHI: A meeting between the Karachi corps commander and the Sindh chief minister on Thursday is expected to ease the controversy over the extension in the special powers of the paramilitary Rangers.

The special powers – under which the Rangers can carry out investigations, conduct raids without a warrant and detain suspects for 90 days in Karachi – were last extended on August 8 for a period of 120 days and have expired this week.



The huddle between Corps Commander Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar and CM Qaim Ali Shah has, according to sources, resulted in an understanding between the Sindh government and the army over the issue.

Mukhtar held two meetings with Shah: the first one was one-on-one; the second, however, was joined in by Finance Minister Murad Ali Shah and Home Minister Sohail Anwar Sial.

Official sources said CM Shah had agreed to extend the paramilitary force’s special powers following Mukhtar and the federal government’s assurance that he (Shah) would be taken into confidence before any action against a high-profile personality.



“A resolution will be moved in the Sindh Assembly, but only to ratify the Rangers deployment in the province,” said an insider. “As for an extension in the special powers, the CM will sign its summary and the home department will issue the subsequent notification.”

He claimed that the provincial government had appeared to be more interested in dragging the issue in the assembly, but now the ice seemed to have started to thaw, adding that the meeting with the corps commander could ease the controversy.

When asked about Thursday’s meetings, the spokesperson for the CM House only admitted to the corps commander calling on the CM to discuss law and order, as well as the ongoing targeted action in Karachi.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 11^th,  2015.