Pakistan

Sindh govt extends Rangers tenure in Karachi for a year

The paramilitary force's tenure for assisting police and civil administration was due to expire on July 19

Hafeez Tunio July 17, 2015

PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE

KARACHI: The Sindh government on Friday extended the Rangers' stay in Karachi by one year starting from July 20.

According to sources, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has taken the decision on the directives of party co-chairman and former president of the country, Asif Ali Zardari.

The paramilitary force's tenure for assisting police and civil administration is due to expire on July 19.

The deployment of Rangers in Karachi is requisitioned under Article 147 of the Constitution. The Rangers were given additional powers equivalent to those of the police to maintain law and order and control the menace of targeted killings in the city.

Read: Controversy ends: Rangers’ stay in Sindh extended for 30 days

Earlier in the month, the provincial government extended the policing powers of the paramilitary force for 30 days. Hours after Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan assured Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah that the Rangers’ deployment was not about limiting the authority of anybody and would not be interference in provincial autonomy, the provincial government extended the policing powers of the paramilitary force for 30 days.

A notification to this effect was issued by the federal interior ministry. Earlier the provincial government used to issue such notifications. According to the spokesperson for the chief minister, endorsement for the Rangers’ policing powers would be sought from the provincial assembly. Four months ago, the paramilitary force was given special powers to detain suspects for 90 days. The permission expired on July 8.

Read: Performance review: Rangers claim Karachi operation helped curb crime

The decision was taken after Pakistan Peoples Party Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari telephoned Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and directed him to issue a notification of extension in the Rangers’ deployment without any delay.

“In the present circumstances, the relation between the military and the civilian government is praiseworthy,” he said, adding that for the betterment of the country, there was a dire need to strengthen this relationship.

Read: Rangers raid MQM headquarters Nine-Zero, take two leaders into custody

COMMENTS (11)

Muhajir | 8 years ago | Reply This is Eid before Eid. Thank you Rangers. Get us rid of these MQM, PPP and ANP thugs.

sad | 8 years ago | Reply Sad day for Sindh.PPP to save thier skin has sold Sindh to Punjab.Soon Sindhis will be extinct in Sindh like the RedIndiana in America.

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Sardar KHAN | 8 years ago | Reply @Hasan Askari: My parents and other relatives migrated from east Punjab in 1947.By working hard in Pakistan they stopped calling Muhajirs by 1950.How long will it take MQM to stop using Muhajir card an other 150 years perhaps.Most of Karachi people are born since 1947 can't be still Muhajirs.Altaf Hussain & his cronies should grow up and be true and loyal Pakistanis as were your ancestors.

Raisani | 8 years ago | Reply @Hasan Askari: Shut off with your Mohajir Mohajir nonsense. No one is Mohajir here anymore. All are Pakistani and if one still thinks of himself as Mohajir even after more half a century then he should pack up n go to where he belongs. We have no asylum in Sindh n Pakistan. ET: i guess this doesn't offend you as it's a reply in reply of the offensive messages.

Timorlane | 8 years ago | Reply By transferring the most sordid corrupt cronies of zardari party who have already escaped from country this corrupt and crimes patron wadera government is staging a drama of newborn propriety and presenting Rangers' stay extension as its doing while everyone knows the reality

Usman | 8 years ago | Reply @Hasan Askari: Not that you needed to advertise your utter contempt for Karachi and Pakistan, we're already aware of MQM's agenda of terror and chaos for Karachi.

Truth | 8 years ago | Reply Deal between Army and PPP ...you give us forest land we drop charges against you...another NRO

Muhammad | 8 years ago | Reply Good news although there is an impression that following Zardari's "brick on brick" tirade this is an attempt to appease the army.

Hasan Askari | 8 years ago | Reply Muhajirs now really need to think about the situation. Imran saying generals pee in their pant and zardari and pmln threatening army, humiliating ssg commando etc is fine and we dont see even a tweet let alone raid and altaf hussain and his party is being arrested. lal masjid cleric took oath on daish, shias are called non muslims and no arrests. I suggest calling strike in the city for a week or stop paying sales tax or taxes. These tribals in the end are all about money. they do not have a character..be sharam hai. as soon as the money will dry these besharams will touch your feet...or open their dhoti

Peace | 8 years ago | Reply Eid can't get any better. However would that mean, Rangers will hesitate to take action against PPP mafias and militant wings?

Saleem | 8 years ago | Reply Do you actually think this was Sindh Govt. decision? Give me a break!

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