Karachi law and order: Rangers to launch operation in two days

Nisar says Sindh CM will supervise the operation; dispels impression federal govt encroached upon provincial powers.

KARACHI:

The paramilitary Rangers is all set to launch a surgical operation in Karachi within the next couple of days to purge the violence-plagued megacity of target killers, extortionists and criminals and restore order.

“The Rangers will start a targeted operation in the next two to three days,” announced Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan following a special meeting of the federal cabinet at the Governor’s House on Wednesday.

The meeting decided to give the paramilitary force the ‘full mandate’ to lead both investigations and the operation against extortionists, terrorists, target killers and kidnappers in the metropolis.

The meeting was attended by Sindh governor, chief minister, chief secretary, police inspector general, advocate general, Rangers director general and Muttahida Qaumi Movement Senator Dr Farogh Naseem, apart from the federal ministers.

“The Rangers DG will have the lead role in the targeted operation,” Nisar told reporters at the news conference alongside Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah and Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan. He added, however, that this did not mean the federal government had decided to negate provincial powers.



“The federal government will not violate provincial autonomy … the entire operation will be supervised by the Sindh chief minister,” he said, adding that a committee to ‘monitor, manage and control’ the operation will be set up under the chief minister’s authority.

“The committee will comprise officials of the Sindh government, interior minister, Rangers, National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra), National Alien Registration Authority (Nara) and the federal intelligence agencies and will conduct meetings every week.”

Speaking at the conference, Chief Minister Shah appreciated the prime minister’s role in helping the provincial government resolve the volatile situation in Karachi and said the decision to launch a paramilitary operation in the city would not affect provincial autonomy.

Rangers powers to be expanded

The interior minister said the government had also decided to give more powers to the Rangers to conduct the targeted operation – up till now, the paramilitary force could only arrest suspected criminals.

He said another committee, to be headed by federal minister Zahid Hamid, has been constituted to work on legislation in this regard. Other members include the Sindh prosecutor general and Senator Farogh Naseem.

“We are taking such measures just to control the Karachi situation. We can enhance and curtail the Rangers powers if and when needed,” the chief minister told reporters.

Meanwhile, Nisar said that one police station in each district of Karachi would be set up as a ‘focal’ station for the Rangers to launch investigations and operations from.

Operational committee

Briefing reporters about the other decisions made in the meeting, Nisar said an operational committee comprising representatives of both civil and military intelligence agencies would be set up under the supervision of the Rangers DG. The committee will hold daily meetings to discuss the modus operandi of the targeted operation, he added.

Role of civil society in operation

The interior minister told reporters that another committee, comprising civil society activists and senior citizens, would monitor the conduct of the Rangers during the operation.

“Neutral individuals from civil society and the media community, and former bureaucrats will be taken as members of this committee to monitor the operational activities of the paramilitary forces.”

Nisar said the committee will also determine whether those arrested during the operation are affiliated with any political parties.

“We assure the people of Karachi that no action will be taken against the innocent,” he said.

Responding to a question, the minister said law enforcement officials had briefed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif regarding militant wings in political parties. “We have decided to dismantle these wings by conducting the operation,” he said.

Politicisation of the police

Asked about politicisation in the police department, Nisar admitted that merit was often ignored while making appointments in the force and a large number of police officers had been appointed on political grounds.

“We have asked the IG to probe this matter and arrest all such police officials, as they are part of a nexus with criminals and terrorists,” he said. He added that the prime minister had also asked the IG revamp the police department by appointing new officers on merit.

The minister, meanwhile, dispelled the notion that the federal government had decided to transfer the Sindh IG and chief secretary.

“Making a decision in this regard is the constitutional right of the chief minister… the federal government can only make appointments for such posts on the recommendation of the chief minister.”

The interior minister withheld certain decisions taken in Wednesday’s meeting, saying it would be premature to reveal them at this moment.

PM Nawaz meets journalist community

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Nawaz held a meeting with newspaper editors, senior journalists, columnists and anchorpersons.

Speaking on the occasion, he dispelled the impression that the government would give a ‘free hand’ to the Rangers to conduct the operation in Karachi.

“No one will be given free hand because it will lead to human rights violations. The government will devise a mechanism to oversee the activities of the paramilitary force,” he said. The premier added that the government was also considering launching a civilian special force to specifically counter terrorist and criminal activities.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 5^th, 2013.