Karachi operation: Rangers to be given full powers, says Chandio

Says Sindh govt has no dispute with the paramilitary force or Centre.

ISLAMABAD/ KARACHI:

The Sindh information adviser said on Monday that the Rangers would be given full powers in Karachi. The provincial government has no dispute with the paramilitary force or the federal government, Maula Bux Chandio said while speaking to journalists after a meeting of the Sindh cabinet. “The people who wanted to create a rift between the provincial and federal governments will be discouraged over the Rangers’ issue.”

Chandio, who has always been a critic of the top security czar, said: “Chaudhry Nisar is also our federal interior minister and we have no issues with him.” Sources believe a telephone conversation between Nisar and Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah on the Karachi operation and the Rangers’ powers had caused the Pakistan Peoples Party leaders and ministers to change their tone.



Regarding alleged gangster Uzair Baloch, whose arrest was disclosed on Saturday, Chandio said: “He is no more affiliated with the PPP.” The party has nothing to do with him or his activities, he added.

Meanwhile, Nisar has asked CM Shah to issue the new notification of extending the Rangers’ special policing powers, as the existing notification is due to expire in a few days.

He said that issuing the new notification with due consultation would be a good gesture as regards the Karachi operation.

A spokesperson for the interior ministry said Shah had assured Nisar that his administration would forward a requisition to the Centre on Tuesday.

Schools’ security

Given the security threats to educational institutions, the Sindh cabinet meeting has decided to launch the Safe School Project in Karachi and has approved the proposed security plan.

With CM Shah in chair, the meeting approved to initially hire 300 police commandos from the Special Security Unit to guard public and private schools declared vulnerable.

Around 180 private schools have been declared vulnerable in the city, officials informed the meeting. The home secretary, Education Secretary Fazlullah Pechuho and the provincial police chief have been tasked with improving the 16-point security plan.

Quoting the education secretary, sources said that around Rs7.6 billion will be allocated for the boundary walls of 8,417 government schools across the province.

Uniforms will also be introduced for the lower staff, and civil defence and scout organisations will be activated.

Meanwhile, Rangers and police will work as a ‘rapid and response force’ by patrolling the vicinities of the vulnerable educational institutions. Police and Rangers checkpoints will also be set up near these schools, colleges and universities.



“There are 46,056 government schools in Sindh, of which 7,795 are in Karachi,” Pechuho said.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 2^nd, 2016.