Stabilising Karachi: Cabinet sets vast powers for Rangers
Anti-Terrorism (Third Amendment) Bill, 2013 to be tabled in parliament.
The federal cabinet approved extraordinary powers for the paramilitary Rangers in an effort to stamp out crimes from the megacity PHOTO: MOHAMMAD SAQIB
ISLAMABAD:
For months on end, Karachi has been under virtual siege from an assortment of gangsters and shadowy figures from the underbelly of crime. Their extortion rackets, targeted killings, land grabbings and kidnappings for ransom have spread fear far and wide, driven traders into submission and uprooted entire neighbourhoods. Given the volatility of the situation, federal authorities have been accelerating efforts to restore order in the country’s commercial hub.
On Friday, the federal cabinet approved extraordinary powers for the paramilitary Rangers in an effort to stamp out crimes from the megacity as was reported by The Express Tribune in an exclusive report on Wednesday. The paramilitary force has already been mandated to carry out surgical operations against criminal gangs in the city.
The cabinet approved the Anti-Terrorism (Third Amendment) Bill, 2013 which will now be tabled in parliament for approval. Minister for Science and Technology Zahid Hamid presented the bill which includes recommendations of a special committee formed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
According to the draft bill, “[the] Rangers after prior warning as considered necessary against persons committing a terrorist or scheduled offence will be authorised to shoot or order to shoot before they are fired upon as provided under the existing law.”
Other than that, the “draft bill provides for law-enforcement agencies the powers of preventive detention up to three months for any person concerned in any offence under the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 relating to security or defence of Pakistan and public order relating to target killing, kidnapping for ransom and extortion. The draft amendment also provides for protection of witnesses, judges and prosecutors,” says a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.
This means from now on, extortion, kidnapping for ransom and target killing – the three crimes which have shaken Karachi the most – will be tried under the anti-terrorism law.
For the protection of judges and witnesses, the bill proposes a slew of measures which include using screens to shield witnesses, judges and prosecutors from public view; conducting trials on jail premises or through video-link; investigation and trial in another province, etc. The bill also proposes measures for expeditious disposal of cases by the courts.
In his opening remarks, Premier Nawaz expressed satisfaction over the ongoing targeted operation in Karachi. “The situation in Karachi calls for strict measures in order to restore peace in the commercial hub of Pakistan as the ongoing operation has yielded good results and the common man has expressed satisfaction over the improvement in the law and order situation,” he added. The premier directed the federal government institutions to ensure full cooperation with the Sindh government to restore law and order in the megacity.
The cabinet also approved plans to initiate negotiations of an additional loan agreement of $100 million to co-finance the Neelum–Jhelum hydropower project. The loan will reduce the funding gap of $375 million for the under-construction project which will generate 969 megawatts of electricity. The terms of the loan are soft as there is only 2% annual charge and the maturity of the loan is 20 years, including a grace period of five years.
The cabinet discussed the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Act 2013 and decided to constitute a special committee to review the proposed bill for local bodies for the federal capital. Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali will head the committee which has been tasked to present its report in the next meeting of the federal cabinet.
The cabinet, in principle, approved also the ‘Prime Minister’s Programme for the Youth’ which will offer incentives to young people in the sphere of business and education.
It also approved signing of a MoU between Pakistan, the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland for enhancing cooperation in the field of narcotics control.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 21st, 2013.
For months on end, Karachi has been under virtual siege from an assortment of gangsters and shadowy figures from the underbelly of crime. Their extortion rackets, targeted killings, land grabbings and kidnappings for ransom have spread fear far and wide, driven traders into submission and uprooted entire neighbourhoods. Given the volatility of the situation, federal authorities have been accelerating efforts to restore order in the country’s commercial hub.
On Friday, the federal cabinet approved extraordinary powers for the paramilitary Rangers in an effort to stamp out crimes from the megacity as was reported by The Express Tribune in an exclusive report on Wednesday. The paramilitary force has already been mandated to carry out surgical operations against criminal gangs in the city.
The cabinet approved the Anti-Terrorism (Third Amendment) Bill, 2013 which will now be tabled in parliament for approval. Minister for Science and Technology Zahid Hamid presented the bill which includes recommendations of a special committee formed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
According to the draft bill, “[the] Rangers after prior warning as considered necessary against persons committing a terrorist or scheduled offence will be authorised to shoot or order to shoot before they are fired upon as provided under the existing law.”
Other than that, the “draft bill provides for law-enforcement agencies the powers of preventive detention up to three months for any person concerned in any offence under the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 relating to security or defence of Pakistan and public order relating to target killing, kidnapping for ransom and extortion. The draft amendment also provides for protection of witnesses, judges and prosecutors,” says a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.
This means from now on, extortion, kidnapping for ransom and target killing – the three crimes which have shaken Karachi the most – will be tried under the anti-terrorism law.
For the protection of judges and witnesses, the bill proposes a slew of measures which include using screens to shield witnesses, judges and prosecutors from public view; conducting trials on jail premises or through video-link; investigation and trial in another province, etc. The bill also proposes measures for expeditious disposal of cases by the courts.
In his opening remarks, Premier Nawaz expressed satisfaction over the ongoing targeted operation in Karachi. “The situation in Karachi calls for strict measures in order to restore peace in the commercial hub of Pakistan as the ongoing operation has yielded good results and the common man has expressed satisfaction over the improvement in the law and order situation,” he added. The premier directed the federal government institutions to ensure full cooperation with the Sindh government to restore law and order in the megacity.
The cabinet also approved plans to initiate negotiations of an additional loan agreement of $100 million to co-finance the Neelum–Jhelum hydropower project. The loan will reduce the funding gap of $375 million for the under-construction project which will generate 969 megawatts of electricity. The terms of the loan are soft as there is only 2% annual charge and the maturity of the loan is 20 years, including a grace period of five years.
The cabinet discussed the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Act 2013 and decided to constitute a special committee to review the proposed bill for local bodies for the federal capital. Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali will head the committee which has been tasked to present its report in the next meeting of the federal cabinet.
The cabinet, in principle, approved also the ‘Prime Minister’s Programme for the Youth’ which will offer incentives to young people in the sphere of business and education.
It also approved signing of a MoU between Pakistan, the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland for enhancing cooperation in the field of narcotics control.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 21st, 2013.