The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leadership in a meeting held the other day in Dubai has decided to extend special policing powers of the paramilitary Rangers force.
Former president and PPP’s co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari chaired the meeting with Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and gave approval for the long overdue decision of extension of the Rangers’ stay in Sindh.
According to PPP officials, it was also decided in the meeting to provide special policing powers to Rangers as well.
Extending policing powers to Rangers has become a bone of contention between the provincial and federal governments.
Zardari directed the Sindh Government to approve a summary related to the extension of Rangers’ powers in Karachi immediately.
Rangers and the Sindh government are at crossroads over several cases including the arrest of former PPP minister Dr Asim Hussain who has been in the paramilitary custody for almost a year now.
However, the row deepened when Asad Kharal, an alleged ‘front man’ of the key party leaders was arrested by the paramilitary force near Hyderabad.
Muhammad Ali alias Asad Kharal was accused of corruption worth millions of rupees.
The move was followed by CM Sindh Shah expressing dissatisfaction in a meeting with Corps Commander Karachi Lieutenant General Naveed Mukhtar over the Rangers exceeding powers in Sindh.
Since 2013, forces leading an operation against criminals in Karachi under powers bestowed on the paramilitary force under Article-147, the Pakistan Rangers Sindh conducted multiple targeted operations in interior Sindh during which 533 suspects were arrested. Those detained were handed over to the Police and various law enforcement agencies.
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