Karachi traders demand extension of Rangers’ special powers

All Karachi Tajir Ittehad chairperson says targeted operation has restored investors’ trust in city

KARACHI: Traders in Karachi demanded on Friday of the Sindh government to extend the special policing powers granted to Rangers in the province.


“The targeted operation in Karachi has restored investors’ trust in the city,” said All Karachi Tajir Ittehad chairperson Atiq Mir, Express News reported.

In a statement issued on Friday, Mir, while expressing satisfaction on the paramilitary force’s performance in Sindh, warned the traders of Karachi would stage a protest outside the Sindh Assembly building if the provincial government did not heed to their demand.



Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had vowed on Monday not to whittle down the accomplishments and sacrifices made by law enforcement and security agencies during the Karachi operation.

Chairing a high-level meeting at the Governor House to review the law and order situation, and the continuing surgical operation, the premier said “across-the-board institutional and political consensus” had been invoked for the targeted operation.

Despite its decision to extend the policing powers of Rangers for another 120 days, the Sindh government has expressed some reservations.

In a separate meeting with the premier, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah reportedly said the Rangers were given the mandate to focus only on the targeted operation against terrorists, having no authority to interfere in affairs of the provincial government.



The Sindh government is also at loggerheads with the law enforcement agency over a terrorism-related case against former petroleum minister Dr Asim Hussain, a close aide of former president and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari.

According to a source, Rangers have been demanding special powers that extend to other parts of the province as well.