Rangers to launch operation against banned outfits in Punjab

Paramilitary force will assist the anti-terror force against terrorists and their facilitators: Rana Sanaullah

The Punjab government has called in Rangers to conduct an operation against banned outfits in ‘designated areas’.

According to the provincial law minister Rana Sanaullah, the government, after the recent Quetta hospital attack, has decided that Rangers should assist the anti-terror force in Punjab against terrorists, banned organisations and their facilitators.

Talking to BBC Urdu, Sanaullah said the paramilitary force was being called in Punjab for ‘designated areas’ and a ‘specific timeframe’.



He said Rangers were being called initially for two months, but their stay could be extended if need be.

The law minister maintained that the Rangers had been present in the province and been involved in counter-terrorism operation alongside police, saying efforts were underway to increase the number of personnel and establishing their presence.

He made it clear that Rangers are being called to tackle situation in some ‘difficult areas’ where a critical action was necessary as per intelligence reports.



Sanaullah said it wasn’t the first time that the personnel were being called, saying their presence was earlier sought during an operation against gangsters in Rajanpur district.

According to reports, a summary regarding Rangers deployment has been sent to Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, followed by a letter to the federal interior ministry for the deployment.