CM Murad to resolve Rangers powers issue

Interior minister Nisar expects decision within a day or two

KARACHI: The newly elected Sindh chief minister has hinted at resolving the issue of extending policing powers of Rangers that has been a cause of friction between the federal and provincial governments recently.

On Saturday, Murad Ali Shah said he would take the decision on extending the Rangers special powers soon. The paramilitary force’s right to detain suspects without any charge in Sindh expired on July 19.

The new CM said this while talking to reporters after offering Fateha at the mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam along with his cabinet members sworn in a little before the visit.



Replying to a question, Murad lauded the services and sacrifices of Rangers in ensuring peace in the city.

He said he had not seen the summary for the extension of Rangers powers. “Let me see their file and I would take the decision. They are working with us and for us,” he said.

He also condemned the attack on Rangers in Larkana. “I want to see the terrorists behind the bars. Police action must be visible,” he said, adding he had directed the Sindh police chief to arrest the suspects at the earliest.

Meanwhile, the interior minister also expressed the hope the extension of Rangers powers would be resolved within a day and two, believing the new Sindh chief minister would resolve the issue.

While talking to reporters in Taxila, Chaudhry Nisar said the issue had been made controversial unnecessarily.



“We are making efforts for maintaining peace in Karachi in consultation with the Sindh government,” he said. “The job of Rangers is to maintain security and the force has complete support of the federal government.”

Nisar said the law and order situation in Karachi was worse in 2013 when the Rangers were given special powers to control the situation. “In two and a half years, Rangers have sacrificed their lives to keep peace and improve the situation in Karachi.”

The interior minister said the Karachi operation was started in consultation with the Sindh government and on the instructions of the Supreme Court, as the Constitution made it obligatory on the federation to keep peace in provinces.

Extension in the powers of Rangers would further improve the situation, he believed. “I am hopeful that hurdles will be removed and things will move forward.”



First cabinet meeting

The Sindh chief minister had on Saturday presided over his first cabinet meeting at the CM House, where he admitted the challenges for his government with the foremost being to remove the perception of corruption and bad governance in Sindh.



“We have to remove this perception collectively by establishing good governance,” Murad said. “We are accountable to the people of Sindh, we are accountable to our party leadership and on the top of it, we are accountable to the Almighty.”

The CM said that merit in every sector was his top priority. “If you take your decisions on merit it would brush aside all the wrong impressions and propaganda,” he said while talking to his cabinet members.



He also assured all the ministers that he would delegate them full powers and give them free hand to perform in the larger interest of the province.

Secretaries huddle

Murad, while presiding over a meeting with secretaries and heads of government departments, outlined his policies, including good governance, rule of law, merit-based transfers and postings and public welfare-oriented projects.

The chief minister said his top most priority was “the right man for the right job”.  “Most of you have worked with me and I know you are the best officers, therefore I am expecting your helping hand in reducing of poverty and unemployment while providing best education and health services,” he said while addressing the officials.

Murad said the development portfolio in the Sindh’s new budget was Rs200 billion. “I want you to be the custodian of each and every paisa allocated for the development schemes and use them in the best interest of the people and the province of Sindh,” he said, adding he would personally oversee the funds were utilised in a transparent manner.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 31^st, 2016.