Pakistan

Sindh Assembly adopts resolution to curtail Rangers' special powers

Paramilitary force can only take action against target killings, extortion, kidnapping for ransom & sectarian killings

Hafeez Tunio December 16, 2015

A file photo of Rangers in Karachi. PHOTO: FILE

KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly passed a resolution on Wednesday demanding conditions on Rangers’ special powers to raid and arrest suspects.

According to the resolution, which was tabled by Sindh Home Minister Sohail Anwer Siyal, the paramilitary force can only take action against target killings, extortion, kidnapping for ransom, and sectarian killings.

The resolution says that any person not directly involved in terrorism, and is only suspected of aiding and abetting terrorists shall not be placed under preventive detention.

PM steps in to resolve row over Rangers’ special powers

It also stresses that Rangers will neither be able to arrest anyone under the allegations of financing terrorists without prior written approval of Sindh government or the chief minister nor raid any office of Sindh government or any other authority without approval of the Sindh chief secretary.

Rangers were given special policing powers following the start of the surgical action in Karachi in 2013.

Meanwhile, the home department is expected to issue a notification in this regard soon. The chief minister will sign the summary.

Resolution available with The Express Tribune

Resolution available with The Express Tribune

COMMENTS (26)

Pakistani Sindhi | 8 years ago | Reply @A J Khan: Sindh not 'Sind'. Please keep it in mind!

Pakistani Sindhi | 8 years ago | Reply @Rayan: Not "now" rather PPP has been showing its true colors for since Zardari took over the party.

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Patriot | 8 years ago | Reply This clearly shows that these assemblies are for the benefit of the people sitting in it rather than for the common man.

Ammar | 8 years ago | Reply I don't want to live in this country anymore!

bajwa | 8 years ago | Reply I have a question from the people of Sindh, don't you deserve these rulers? "Aur du vote PPP aur MQM ko"

kfaisal | 8 years ago | Reply @Hashmi..u sound like a government servant. U know very well its all being done to save one man. I know Rangers should not investigate general corruption but tying their hands while investigating terror financing is wrong. All aspects of terrorism including financing should remain fair game. Just for an ulterior motive the whole effort to curb terrorism is being sacrificed. It seems the guy Sindh govt is keen to save did finance terrorists.

iLiberal | 8 years ago | Reply @Rex Minor: As usual you have made a dumb and ignorant comment. You support corruption and nepotism at the expense of the state. P.S. Signing Rex Minor after every comment makes you appear as an idiot. iLiberal

zaffar | 8 years ago | Reply This really proves that political parties are behind terrorists and have been supporting them with money. that goes for Zardari and co.

Rumormonger | 8 years ago | Reply This law can also be challenged in the courts for being discriminatory against the common man and providing cover to well connected persons.

Rumormonger | 8 years ago | Reply If the Federal govt had clean hands, they would have introduced clauses at the national level that would coerce the provinces to comply with clean up operations.

Rayan | 8 years ago | Reply So PPP has started showing it's true colors now. This is called "Jamhooriat ka husn". You do corruption, loot people, do land grabbing, join a political party and Voila!. You are protected. So easy for the criminals to be under the shadow of our blurry constitution.

S.R.H. Hashmi | 8 years ago | Reply With Rangers stationed in Karachi for over twenty years, and not remaining confined purely to barracks, one would be entitled to assume that they would have acquired adequate knowledge of goings on in Karachi. Also, the former Rangers Director General Major General Rizwan Akhtar (now ISI chief with the rank of Lieutenant General) would have briefed the new D.G. Rangers, Major General Bilal Akbar. So, this accumulated knowledge of Rangers coupled with nearly two years of completely free hand should have been enough to enable them to break the back of organized criminal gangs, and to bring a fair bit of peace to the city, which indeed Rangers have done, for which Karachiites are grateful to Rangers as also to Karachi Police which also stepped up its activity level and scored spectacular success. Now, it is quite obvious that such unlimited powers could not stay with the Rangers indefinitely, more so when there are allegations by MQM and others of arbitrary arrests, torture and even extra-judicial killings. Additionally, there are allegations by the ruling Peoples Party about Rangers going far beyond their mandate and getting involved in matters which the Sindh government considers to be beyond their powers, and separate institutions are already there to deal specifically with them, like corruption for instance. As such, the Sindh Assembly has now adopted a resolution which restricts Rangers jurisdiction to cases of target killings, extortion, kidnapping for ransom, and sectarian killings. The resolution adopted by the Sindh Assembly says that any person not directly involved in terrorism, and who is only suspected of aiding and abetting terrorists shall not be placed under preventive detention. It also stresses that Rangers will neither be able to arrest anyone under the allegations of financing terrorists without prior written approval of Sindh government or the chief minister nor raid any office of Sindh government or any other authority without approval of the Sindh chief secretary. The resolution does not stop Rangers from taking necessary action but ties it with prior government approval, which would be given on the production of evidence supporting the charge. And on the face of it, it doesn’t sound unreasonable. After all, citizens’ rights cannot remain suspended indefinitely. Karachi

A J Khan | 8 years ago | Reply Only One Solution for Sind. Let PPP further disgrace itself.

ashar | 8 years ago | Reply What else we can have from Corrupt Sindh Government

Abdullah khan | 8 years ago | Reply It's call provincial autonomy

Kanju | 8 years ago | Reply Only one solution for Sindh: Impose Governor Raj

Rex Minor | 8 years ago | Reply @Usman: Basically, the Rangers have been reduced to a police force, rather than a peace keeper force. After the PM’s little speech on the APS massacre, it will be interesting to see whether is uses his influence to keep Rangers special powers or reduce them. And this sir, is the verdict of the parliamenterians who represent the people. The Prime Minster speech if correctly reported makes his persona liable for prosecution in a country of law! This must be condemned by any one who believers in law and order of a democracy. Rex Minor

Kamran Azim | 8 years ago | Reply Lol. It was expected. Tough time for the General and the public. The only thing transparent is corruption. How openly they do things- bravo! A good win for all corrupt political parties especially PMLn which must have supported this. Sindh clean-up is a test for other provinces. They use laws / constitution umbrella just to protect themselves. General, you are the last hope. Clean it all as you have the people’s support.

Ashraf P | 8 years ago | Reply Rangers are being used for political revenge. How can they investigate economic offenses?They do not have the expertise to do that. Seems like Punjab has no corruption.

farhan | 8 years ago | Reply So how rangers will determine that a person affiliated with political party is not terrorist... Does PPP supports sympathisers of terrorists and their financiers????

sindhi | 8 years ago | Reply Root cause of our problems are Politician!!! and of Sindh, MQM and PPP

Waseem Ch | 8 years ago | Reply Such a tragic disgrace, on the first anniversary of APS Massacre, PPP & MQM have "legalized" their corruption and extortion to further loot and plunder Sindh and its people. The greatest tragedy is that the people have and will continue for the same PPP & MQM which deprives them of development, security, well being and occasionally their lives as well.

Lestb | 8 years ago | Reply What a gift by PPP led Sindh Govt on blackest day of Pakistan. Things will never change here

Usman | 8 years ago | Reply Basically, the Rangers have been reduced to a police force, rather than a peace keeper force. After the PM's little speech on the APS massacre, it will be interesting to see whether is uses his influence to keep Rangers special powers or reduce them.

bash gul | 8 years ago | Reply There you go. Corruption is not a crime in this country. So you can plunder the nation and enjoy the illgotten wealth in Dubai. When will this nation learn. No wonder you wont find schools, health centers or university in interior Sindh. Keep the people slaves to the feudals. And look at the double face of MQM. They did not bother to protest. Its still not known whether MQM is in the opposition or behind the scenes with the PPP.

Abid Shah Mashwani | 8 years ago | Reply This is now blatant support for corruption. Not only Governor rule is justified in this scenario, Sindh assembly members supporting this resolution should be arrested for corruption and aiding and abetting terrorism through this resolution.

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