Maula Bux Chandio, the Sindh chief minister’s adviser on information addressing a press conference. PHOTO: PPI
HYDERABAD/ KARACHI:
Unfazed by the ‘threats’ of the federal interior minister, the Sindh government insisted on Saturday that the provincial assembly would ratify the extension of special powers for the paramilitary Rangers in the province.
A visibly dismayed Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar earlier implied the Pakistan Peoples Party was “hampering [the] Karachi operation to save one person [Dr Asim Hussain]”. He also threatened to make public the joint investigation report and supposed video confession of Dr Asim, on whom the entire controversy appears to be centred.
Responding to his allegations, Maula Bux Chandio, the Sindh chief minister’s adviser on information, said the PPP was a democratic party and knew how to fight for democracy. “Chaudhry Nisar should avoid threatening us,” he said while addressing the media at the Chief Minister House. “We are not afraid of Dr Asim’s JIT report or his video statement. They can disclose it whenever they want.”
He clarified the Sindh government was likely to approve the extension in Rangers’ special powers on Monday. “We are clear on this issue and have already announced extending those powers,” he said. “This matter will be resolved by Monday when the assembly will ratify the paramilitary force’s powers.”
In a press conference in Hyderabad earlier in the day, Chandio said the Rangers powers could not be extended without Sindh Assembly’s approval under Article 147 of the Constitution.
The paramilitary force has been stationed in Karachi since 1989. It was given policing powers a few years ago when violence spiralled in the metropolis. While the special powers have been extended several times, in the past few months the Sindh authorities have shown reluctance.
Chandio said the PPP-led government was not against the Rangers special powers and only wanted to fulfil democratic requirements. “But some people don’t like strengthening of democracy in Pakistan. That is why they talk of intervening in provincial affairs,” he added in an apparent jibe at the interior minister.
“Nisar’s party has always supported dictators, who consider the Constitution merely a piece of paper and throw it away whenever they want,” Chandio said. “Please avoid creating a controversy in the name of Rangers powers and don’t create anarchy in Pakistan just for your own and your party’s vested interest.”
Bone of contention
Finally coming to the point in his rebuttal to Nisar, Chandio said the Rangers did not have the powers to investigate corruption cases or to question civilian authorities. “The Rangers were given powers to pursue terrorists and criminals but unfortunately they have started the accountability of government departments and politicians,” he said.
Chandio added that provincial anti-corruption departments and the NAB were already there to investigate corruption cases at provincial and federal levels. “Can Chaudhry Nisar’s government even dare to start the accountability of NAB and others for their failure to control corruption across Pakistan?” Chandio questioned.
He also lamented the silence of Nisar and his party over human rights violations in Punjab. “Under-trial prisoners are killed in police custody. Villages and settlements of minorities are set on fire. Why are Nisar and his government mum on these issues?”
Chandio further said a Karachi-like operation was not on the cards in other districts of Sindh.
In Hyderabad, the adviser had acknowledged the Rangers-led operation had yielded positive results.
Support pours in
Senator Farhatullah Babar fully backed Chandio. In a statement, the PPP spokesperson said the Karachi operation was launched on both the recommendation and support of the Sindh government.
“The Rangers mandate was to curb four distinct crimes: terrorism, targeted killings, kidnapping for ransom and extortion,” he stated. “The Rangers performed this role in a commendable manner but the issue rose when it overstepped its mandate.”
Babar said the decision to take the issue to the Sindh Assembly should not surprise anyone. “There had been no controversy in the past as there was no overstepping of mandate,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 13th, 2015.
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