The directives were issued ahead of a deadline for the powers on Saturday. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah has extended the policing powers conferred to Rangers in Karachi by 120 days.
Shah made the decision on Saturday under the Anti-terrorism Act as the powers, handed over to the paramilitary force some four months ago, reached their deadline today.
The chief minister said he hoped that Rangers would continue in their efforts to establish peace in the metropolis with the same zeal and zest.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, chief minister's spokesperson said the Sindh Assembly would ratify these powers through a bill that is to be moved in the assembly.
Read: Law and order: Sindh govt extends Rangers powers
Earlier, on July 8, the Sindh government granted a 30-day extension to Rangers, allowing the paramilitary force to conduct raids without a warrant and detain suspects for 90 days.
Further, on the same day, interior ministry Chaudhry Nisar said the Sindh government would not allow Rangers to be targeted.
"Rangers is our own force and operating under rules and regulations,” he said adding, "The paramilitary force has become an object of political criticism which will not be allowed."
Read: Rangers to keep policing powers in Karachi: Nisar
The statement came as the Sindh chief minister claimed that under the 18th Constitutional Amendment, the provincial government was bound to seek the legislative assembly’s approval before allowing extension in the powers of Rangers, in an apparent reference to raids at offices of different government departments.
The paramilitary force had been conferred policing powers and the authority to detain suspects for 90 days four months ago with an aim to establish law and order in Karachi.
COMMENTS (5)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ