Matter of implementation: Replies sought from federal, Sindh govt over Rangers’ notification

Petitioner alleges notification extending policing powers not being followed through

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday sought replies from the federal and provincial governments as to the status of implementation of the interior ministry's notification of fully extending Rangers' policing powers in Karachi despite the provincial government's attempts to curtail their operational scope.

Headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, the division bench also issued a notice to the paramilitary force's provincial director-general to file comments.

The bench was hearing a petition challenging adoption of a resolution by the Pakistan Peoples Party in the Sindh Assembly that had curtailed powers of the Rangers, as the same had ended on December 5, 2015 and the provincial government did not extend their stay, alleging the paramilitary force of interfering in provincial matters such as checking corruption.



Maulvi Iqbal Haider, chairperson of the Awami Himayat Tehrik Pakistan, had approached the high court soon after the provincial assembly adopted the resolution.

The petitioner, who had named the federation through the president, the defence and interior ministries, provincial chief secretary and DG Rangers as respondents, had argued that the Rangers were a law enforcement agency under administrative control of the federal government which had allowed them to conduct operations against criminals in Sindh.

"Therefore, the federal government can take any decision on their powers," he argued.

He said recently the Sindh government had got a resolution passed in the provincial assembly to curtail the Rangers' powers.

He alleged that the resolution was based on mala fide intentions and aimed to save former federal minister, Dr Asim Hussain, who is facing charges of terror financing and corruption.



Therefore, he had pleaded the court to set aside the assembly's resolution and order the federal government to delegate powers to the paramilitary force to continue their operation.

On the last hearing, the court had re-issued notices to the relevant federal and provincial authorities to file their comments.

Taking up the matter on Tuesday, the judges observed that through the petition, the petitioner wants directions for the federal government to delegate all powers and authority to the Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) to curb terrorism, militancy and corrupt practices from the province of Sindh. The bench inquired from the additional attorney general, Salman Talibuddin, who was representing the federal government in other cases, whether the notification had already been issued by the federal government.

Talibuddin confirmed that the same notification had already been issued.

At this, the petitioner alleged that while the federal government's notification delegating powers to the Rangers had already been issued, the same was not being implemented in letter and spirit.

To this, the additional attorney general requested for time to assist the court on this particular point of implementation of the notification.

An assistant advocate general, who represented the Sindh government, also sought time to seek proper instructions from the provincial authorities for assistance of the court.

By consent of the parties, the judges adjourned hearing till January 13 and allowed time to the federal and provincial law officers to file their comments. Meanwhile, a notice was also issued to the DG Rangers for filing comments.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 6^th, 2016.