Not taking chances: Five police stations to be jointly run by Rangers, police

A senior police officer will be appointed in-charge of every local police station.

KARACHI: The Pakistan Rangers will be deployed at five police stations of Karachi, whose names were finalised by the government on Wednesday.

A notification in this regard is likely to be issued soon. The Nazimabad police station in district Central, Ferozabad police station in district East, Orangi Town police station in district West, Steel Town police station in district Malir and Aram Bagh police station in district South would be under the joint control of the Rangers and police.

“The impression is wrong that Rangers is taking control of these five focal police stations,” said an official of the Rangers. He said that the suspects arrested on charges of terrorism, targeted killing, kidnapping for ransom and extortion during the ongoing targeted raids and operations would be kept and interrogated at these five designated police stations.

Terms of cooperation

Sources told The Express Tribune that a senior police officer will be appointed in-charge of every focal police station on the recommendation of the Rangers. As per the decision taken by the government, Rangers would move the suspects arrested in any raid to the respective focal police station. The police will then register an FIR against the suspects before handing them over to the joint investigation team.

“The cases of suspects arrested over their involvement in these four categories of crime would be registered only at these focal police stations,” said Saddar Town SP Salman Syed.

He added that the police would register the case and the investigation officer in each case would be a police officer, while the Rangers officials would help in the investigation.

Sharfuddin Memon, adviser on home affairs, said that he had no news about the notification but a decision had been taken.

Reservations

Some police officials expressed dissatisfaction over giving these powers to the Rangers, believing that this would create problems, especially for the police. “I do not believe that this will work effectively,” said a senior police officer, adding that both Rangers and police had different mindsets.

He was of the view that they would have to teach Rangers the laws and the investigation process, which will affect the police performance or delay their work.

Optimism

Meanwhile, other police officials welcomed the decision, but said that the situation will be clear after they receive the notification. “Right now, I cannot comment on it as I have not received a notification,” said district West DIG Javed Odho, adding that the Rangers and police have worked jointly in the past and this could be a good step.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 26^th, 2013.