Law and order: ‘Free hand’ sought for Rangers in Karachi

Watan Party’s Basim Shaukat has filed the petition in SC’s Lahore Registry

LAHORE:

A petition was filed before the Supreme Court at its Lahore Registry on Monday for giving a free hand to Rangers to continue their operation in Karachi.

Watan Party president Basim Shaukat Khan has moved the petition. The petitioner has named the Interior Ministry, the Ministry of Law and the Sindh police inspector general as respondents.

Through his counsel, Barrister Zafarullah, the petitioner submitted that there were serious differences between the central and Sindh governments over the issue of powers exercised by Pakistan Rangers. “The earlier agreement between the federal government and the Sindh government over granting powers to Rangers under Section 5 of the Anti Terrorism Act 1997 for one year has expired,” he said.

He said there had been considerable improvement in the law and order situation in Karachi due to the ongoing security operation. “Target killings, extortion and terrorism have decreased. The country cannot afford such activities in the economic hub of the country. Corruption has also been eliminated from various government departments,” he said.

He said the operation had created fear among corrupt politicians who were trying to impose restrictions on powers exercised by Rangers. “Now, a dispute has arisen between the federal and the Sindh governments over the exercise of unrestricted powers by Rangers. The provincial government wants to withdraw these powers,” he said.

He said that several articles of the Constitution, including Article 147 and 148, were being interpreted in different ways by people in order to try to resolve the issue.

“It is the duty of the Federation to protect the provinces against external aggression and internal disturbances and to ensure that the government of every province is carried out on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. According to Article 148, it is the duty of the province, through its executive authorities, to control the law and order situation and ensure implementation of fundamental rights of citizens. It seems that in this case the provincial authorities have not fulfilled their duty,” he said.

Zafarullah said that it had taken over a year to bring the situation in Karachi under control. “It also cost many police and rangers personnel their lives,” he said.

He said that Sindh government was trying to create hindrances in the way of the operation against corrupt politicians. “Unless, the administration is depoliticised and political parties that have armed wings are taken to task, there will be no rule of law or good governance,” he said.

He said that the situation could not improve unless Rangers were allowed to continue their role in the administration of Sindh province.

The petitioner requested the court that due to failure of the provincial government to maintain the law and order in the province, the federal government should be given a free hand to deal with the situation. He also requested the court that Rangers be allowed a free hand in dealing with terrorists, criminals and corrupt politicians.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 29^th, 2015.