The Pakistan Rangers should be sent back to the borders, senators have suggested in light of the recurrent outbreaks of violence in Karachi.
Sindh has set aside Rs1.29 billion this financial year for the paramilitary force that has been deployed in the province for 18 years and is meant to assist the perennially understaffed police.
But its performance has been criticised over the past few years, especially on May 12, 2007 when pitched battles were fought on Karachi’s streets between political activists.
This was the second consecutive day that the Rangers have come under fire. Just a day ago, a Supreme Court judge had also said that they had not produced any remarkable results.
Continuing in the same vein, as part of the Senate’s standing committee on human rights, Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed called their performance “dull”.
“Political parties should start a consultation in order to get the paramilitary force out of the towns and cities and give them the task of safeguarding the borders,” he said, adding that he wanted to see the police empowered with more money and equipment.
The police budget this year is Rs38 billion and about 7,500 new positions were announced in June.
The standing committee met with Senator Afrasiab Khattak in chair. Seven of its ten members, including Farhatullah Babar, Nasreem Jalil, Dr Farogh Naseem and Raza Rabbani, attended it. Rangers DG Major General Rizwan Akhtar and Additional IG of Police Iqbal Mehmood briefed them.
The DG defended their work, saying that even though the Rangers and police had worked together to arrest around 8,000 ‘target killers’ from Karachi not a single criminal had been convicted. “Criminals being caught red-handed are released without any punishment,” he said. “This has encouraged the suspects and demoralized the police and paramilitary forces. I believe that crime can only be controlled when strict punishment is awarded to people involved in this menace.”
He and the police chief conlcuded that illegal immigrants and militant wings of political parties were the driving force behind violence in Karachi. “No one can bring peace to Karachi until and unless all political parties give up their militant wings,” agreed the committee.
After two hours of deliberations, Khattak said that there was a dire need to take action against illegal immigrants. He suggested the provincial government start an operation against them. The committee also stressed coordination among the provicnes and their police to bust criminal gangs operating from one province to the next.
The standing committee wants to see the government make a concerted effort to pass witness protection bills. Harsher punishments need to be legislated for possession and the illegal arms business. The commitee also recommended taking action against illegal immigrants and asked the federal government to repatriate them.
It also called for a report on how many prisoners had been released on parole in the last ten years.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 3rd, 2012.
COMMENTS (9)
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Send the senators to Karachi to see the situation for themselves before they make a decision.
Well most of the comments are right - we need a strong police that is free of corruption and has the muscle to have convictions based on evidence and free of political influences.
Corrupt and politicized police can never ever bring drastic changes towards the existing status quo. no one should attach high hopes, but try to back independent and middle class candidates in next general election ignoring fairy tellers who also speak to bring revolution in this earth around the sun, but fail to come up with their pledge. How can one forget the testimony recorded by police officials that they were compelled to appoint 70 per cent recruits by modifying merit list
there is time to think, stand up and get rid of this corrupt culture
police is kind enough to save the lives of citizens if they are given full powers and resources. I have come a cross a number of targeted operations, the rangers have always played its role as backup force. it is police which conduct the operation and apprehend the criminals. the paramilitary forces are doing nothing, but occupying historical buildings and university hostels in Sindh. We appeal chief justice of Pakistan to please take suo motu action and evacuate the buildings from unmoved force, which has always been burden on provincial exchequer
Dear viewers, Pak Rangers is performing its secandry task in karachi & other cities of sind provence which is aid & back up sport to civil administration ie police.Beside protecting borders of our beloved country.I agreed with comments of Khuram,who will protect and provide securities to the innocents of Karachi if Rangers will goes back .there are a segment of people who want to open & free field in karachi for thier vested interst specially in up comming election. Very less people knows that countless numbers of torget killers,criminals & bahta collecters were arested from karachi by the Rangers and Police showed them as its own cradit in daily press conferencess .Brave troops of Rangers puts thier lives in dangers and protect the citizens property & lives without any recognitions and fame of media as sillent warriors.Rangers hold no press confrecess after every day oprations in various parts of the karachi city.Rangers provides security all prime installation of the country which are located in Provence of sind including all foreign diplomates. We would more happy if our police is able to perform its primry job as prime respocibility.Who is resposible to politicissing the police,did any body will give gurrenty to karahiites for security of thier lives,property & respects.Do some body wants to put ourselves infront of torget killers,butta collecters. I just request to all please don't join hands with those who tried to defame your pristigious institutions of forces.
You have one of the most expensive military's in the World -- and most of them appear to be bystanders in your fight against militants. You might consider saving the money or putting them to work.
Without rangers who would protect the borders inside of Karachi?
Karachi cannot even sustain for one day without Rangers and the party who want Ultimate power in Karachi want this to happen as Rangers are the only that act neutral in Karachi and they control the mess and without them Karachi will fall into Ethnic violence and will drag into Civil War like Situation. Also it is not the job of Rangers to convict anyone as they are there to control any situation on orders and conviction is the responsibility of the Courts and the Police that is highly Political in Karachi.