Policing powers: Rangers given another 3-month extension in Sindh

Policing powers of Rangers were due to end on November 24, but industrialists urged government for an extension.

KARACHI: The Sindh Home Department has given another three-month extension to the policing powers of the Rangers in order to control the law and order situation in the province, reported Express 24/7 on Tuesday.

A notification was issued by the Home Department for the extension of the powers to the Rangers. The move will allow Rangers to exercise additional powers under Article 5 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

In addition to their power to conduct search operations and arrange security checkposts in Karachi, the Rangers have the authority to detain and interrogate the suspects before handing them over to the police.

Earlier, Rangers conducted several operations in the city in cooperation with the police and arrested a number of suspected target killers and extortionists.

The policing powers of the force were due to end on November 24, but the industrialists and businesspersons of Karachi urged the government for an extension.

They said that the Rangers have helped the police effectively in controlling target killings and now they have to focus their energies on stopping rising street crimes in the country’s financial capital.

The Sindh government has been extending policing powers of the Rangers in Karachi for a long time. The last extension of three months was given in August this year.