Centre rejects Sindh govt summary limiting Rangers powers to Karachi

ISLAMABAD: The interior ministry has rejected a summary approved by Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah granting extension in Rangers’ stay in Karachi with special powers, sources in the ministry told Geo News on Tuesday.

Sources said that the legal experts of the ministry reviewed the summary and rejected it as it does not meet 'legal standards'.

They said that the approved summary had 'legal and constitutional issues' as it was not as per article 147. 

Sources further said that restricting special powers to Karachi was unconstitutional.

Murad Ali Shah, in a bid to end the persisting tense relations and row between the Sindh government and the Rangers, signed the summaries for extending the stay of the Sindh Rangers in the province by one year and to extend the special policing powers of the paramilitary force in Karachi for 90 days.

The federal government, meanwhile, had expressed its resentment over the provincial government for not extending the Rangers’ policing powers to the whole Sindh.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan expressed Centre’s resentment for not extending Rangers’ policing powers to the whole Sindh.

He said that if the paramilitary force’s policing powers were not approved for the whole province then they will consider other options in this regard.

Commenting killing of several police and military personnel in Karachi and Larkana, the minister said that lineage culprits have not yet been traced. “The paramilitary force has to have legal cover as they curb activities of criminals in the city.”

“So far 31 personnel of security forces have been killed in Karachi operation. The operation has not come at an easy price,” the interior minister added.

He said Rangers personnel in Karachi are carrying out the operation with the consent of the Sindh government and the federal government and Rangers extension issue in Sindh will not be politicised and controversies on extension issue of Rangers will not be allowed to turn into political football.

The interior minister said that people from all over Pakistan have supported Karachi operation as this operation has put positive implications Karachi situation.

The minister further said security forces have put their lives at stake and their sacrifices should not be played upon for seeking political mileage.

“We hope the extension of Rangers’ policing powers does not continue to be delayed.”