Exceptions: Bilawal House barriers to stay put

Home Secretary Mukhtiar Ahmed Soomro sent a letter to DG Rangersrequesting him not to take action at Bilawal House

KARACHI: Bilawal House has been exempted by the Rangers in their crackdown against barriers in the city.

As the deadline issued by the Rangers for the removal of barriers in Karachi approached, home secretary Mukhtiar Ahmed Soomro sent a letter to the Rangers director-general requesting him not to take action at Bilawal House.

Sources privy to the development shared some details of the contents of the letter with The Express Tribune. According to them, it read: "The Bilawal House has officially been declared the camp office of a president of Pakistan, therefore, please consider it before taking action against the barriers."

Officials added that there will be no action around Bilawal House in the present circumstances. During the law and order meeting at CM House, the Rangers DG also briefed the chief minister about the deadline for the removal of barriers. According to sources, Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah expressed concern over the decision. "In some areas, the barriers were set up to control crime," he said. "I think the [amount of] crime may shoot up again after the removal of barriers. Do you have any plan to counter it? If not, please devise a plan without any delay so that the removal of barriers does not make a difference." To this, the Rangers DG replied: "We have done our homework and will further strengthen it."

Published in The Express Tribune, March 25^th, 2015.