Performance report: Rangers occupying city property, say Sindh lawmakers

KARACHI:

Criticising the performance of the Rangers in Sindh, Pakistan Peoples Party MPA Faqeer Dad Khoso demanded the government withdraw the paramilitary forces and ask them to leave the educational institutions and hostels they have occupied.

In his budget speech, Khoso said that Rangers have failed to maintain law and order in Karachi so the money spent on them should be diverted to the police. He referred to reports on the Rangers’ performance and called them ‘silent spectators’ in Karachi.

“Who has given the Rangers the authority to occupy the hostels of universities and colleges?” he asked. “If the provincial government really feels a dire need of the paramilitary force then it should make an alternative arrangement for it.”

Meanwhile, the other MPAs also criticised the poor law and order situation in Karachi and condemned the attack on Sindh High Court’s Justice Maqbool Baqar. “Even our courts are not safe,” said MQM’s Syed Sardar Ahmed, pointing out that it is high time the government take action since the courts and the assembly building are close by.

Security threats to Sindh Assembly

Speaker Sindh Assembly Agha Siraj Durrani disclosed that there were serious threats to Sindh Assembly building as well. Annoyed over the lack of security around the assembly building, he said that he has written to the IGP to provide more security.

Resolution

The lawmakers also adopted a unanimous resolution condemning the attack on Justice Baqar. The resolution was moved by Sindh Law Minister Dr Sikandar Mandhro and PML-N leader Ifranullah Marwat.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 27^th, 2013.