Financing terrorism: CM forms task force to probe Rangers report

KARACHI:

Sindh chief minister Qaim Ali Shah has constituted a three-member task force to examine a report submitted by the Rangers about the financing of terrorism through organised crime.

The task force, which comprises Justice (retired) Ghulam Sarwar Korai, retired district and sessions judge Arjun Ram K Talreja and provincial home secretary Mukhtiar Hussain Soomro, has been directed to submit its report within four weeks. The move came after Rangers DG Major General Bilal Akbar claimed that billions of rupees were being collected through extortion, land-grabbing, china cutting, smuggling Iranian oil and other crimes during a briefing of an apex committee meeting, chaired by Shah on June 4.

According to Maj Gen Akbar, even funds collected in the name of religious obligations such as Zakat and Fitrana were being used to purchase illicit weapons and maintain armed groups. The Rangers report estimated the volume of the criminal economy to be over Rs230 billion a year, adding that these funds were being used to finance terrorism as well as being distributed among gangs in Lyari and corrupt politicians and bureaucrats.

Following the Rangers DG's briefing, various political parties demanded an open, transparent investigation into his claims. The chief minister told the task force to examine the report and evidence about financing terrorism, ascertain responsibility and recommend measures to curb these illegal practices.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 14^th, 2015.