Power struggle: Govt preparing summary to extend Rangers’ special powers

Paramilitary force’s tenure for assisting police expires on July 19

KARACHI: The Sindh government is preparing a summary to extend Rangers deployment in the province along with special powers conferred up to the paramilitary forces in Karachi.

The paramilitary force's tenure for assisting police and civil administration is due to expire on July 19. An official privy to the developments informed The Express Tribune that home department has prepared summaries which will soon be sent to chief minister for his final approval before sending the same to federal interior ministry, Islamabad, for notification.

The last notification to deploy the Rangers in Sindh was issued in July, 2015, fixing the one-year tenure of the force with effect from July 20, 2015, to July 19, 2016. Meanwhile, the Rangers policing powers in Karachi were extended for 77 days with effect from May 4, this year. These powers are also going to expire within three days.

Rangers have sent a requisition to federal government seeking special powers for entire province, but Sindh government is unwilling to do it and has prepared summary only for Karachi division, informed an official of home department requesting anonymity. "The consultation is still going on to fix the tenure of powers. Either two or three months policing powers will be given to Rangers," he added.

Sindh law adviser Murtaza Wahab refused to comment on it, but advocate general barrister Zamir Ghumro confirmed that the summary has been put up and issue of Rangers special powers will be resolved soon.

"The Rangers are deployed in the province under Article 147 of the Constitution and under clause 1 of sub-section of Section 4 of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997.  Under this law, the force is authorised to take action against anti-terrorist act," he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 17^th, 2016.