Rangers believed to be given PM’s green light

Sindh Rangers reportedly asked to continue surgical operation

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has authorised the Sindh Rangers to continue its surgical operation in Karachi with special policing powers even if the Sindh government does not grant extension to its powers, The Express Tribune has learnt.

The special policing powers of the paramilitary force, which has been engaged in a surgical operation in Karachi since September 2013, expired on July 19. Sindh government, which apparently has reservations on the operation, has not extended the special powers so far.



However, credible sources in the PM Secretariat have told The Express Tribune that the premier has authorised full powers to the Rangers while his exercising authority under Section 4 (1) of The Anti-Terrorism Act 1997.

It Section 4(1) reads, “It shall be lawful for the federal government to order the presence of armed forces and civil armed forces in any area for the prevention and punishment of terrorist acts and scheduled offences in accordance with the provisions of this Act.”

The development implies that the security forces’ operations in the violence-plagued city will not be affected even if the powers of Sindh Rangers are not extended by the provincial government.

Meanwhile, the prime minister’s expected visit to Karachi to resolve the lingering issue of Rangers powers has not yet taken place due to the political developments involving the election of a new chief minister in Sindh and his cabinet, sources further shared.

“Once the new cabinet is in place and it starts functioning, the premier will visit Karachi and take relevant input from security apparatus on the targeted operation in Karachi and to sort out the issue of powers’ extension,” the officials said.



The PML-N stalwart and Leader of the House in Senate Raja Zafarul Haq did not confirm or deny the reported development.  “This is a sensitive matter that cannot be summed up in a ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Having said that, let me add that the federal government is extremely concerned over the attitude of authorities in Sindh regarding the extension issue,” he said.

Haq said the Rangers are at the forefront in restoring peace in Karachi, which was worst affected by senseless killings of innocents for years.  “I think the credit mainly goes to PM Nawaz, his team and the security brass. The gains acquired in Karachi operation cannot be allowed to go wasted,” he said.

The PML-N stalwart said the premier is in contact with administrative and security authorities in Sindh and is ‘closely’ monitoring Karachi situation. “We will never allow violence to rear its ugly head again in Karachi, Fata [Federally Administered Tribal Areas], Balochistan or anywhere else.”

According to sources, the PM authorised the paramilitary force to keep performing its duties in the National Security Committee (NSC) meeting held at the PM House on July 22. However, the Rangers properly resumed their former role after July 26 killing of two army troops in the city’s business centre.

In the said meet-up, the PM lauded the role of the military and civil intelligence agencies in bringing peace in Karachi and elsewhere “against the nefarious designs of the international agencies and hostile countries.”

Published in The Express Tribune, July 30^th, 2016.