KARACHI, Dec 31: A large number of Pakistan Rangers, deployed in Karachi in aid of the police for maintaining law and order, has been withdrawn and sent to eastern border of the country.
The decision had been taken in view of the war threats from India, sources in the paramilitary forces said.
Sources at the Rangers Headquarters at Jinnah Courts told Dawn that the field force of the rangers had moved away from the Jinnah Courts and only administrative staff of the rangers was present there.
They also said the Director-General of Sindh Rangers, Major-General Shahid Tirmizi, was on a visit to the areas bordering Rajasthan to inspect the deployment of the force.
A military official said that most of the rangers had been shifted to the border but a sizable number of rangers would remain here in the city. He said the rangers’ withdrawal would not affect their deployment in the city for maintaining law and order.
The sources said the rangers had been called some nine years ago in aid of the Sindh police to maintain law and order situation and check the terrorist activities in the province. “Now the things have changed to a large extent and the law and order situation has improved to a satisfactory level. The police are now capable of handling it without the presence of the rangers,” said a senior police official.
Provincial Home Secretary Brig (retd) Mukhtar Ahmed on Saturday had denied reports that there was any plan to shift the force from Karachi to the Sindh’s eastern border and said: “Still there is no such plan under consideration.”
Dawn tried to contact the provincial home secretary repeatedly on Monday, but he could not be reached.
The DG of Rangers, Major-General Shahid Tirmizi, also expressed his ignorance on Saturday about the shifting of the force from Karachi to border areas. On Monday, when Dawn tried to contact him, the officials said he was on a visit to border areas.
The sources said the shifting was ordered suddenly and the rangers moved to the border areas between Sunday and Monday night. A rangers’ official said: “Advanced units in each company of the force deployed in Karachi have been sent to the border areas as the situation has become tense there.
“We are in a state of full alert here. As and when we receive orders, we will also move to the border areas,” the official said on condition of anonymity.
The sources said that most of the rangers’ checkpoints in the city had been deserted after they were vacated. However, the rangers’ personnel was present at the buildings and structures, occupied or purchased by them.
The sources at the Karachi University said that the 73 Wing of the rangers had been withdrawn. The university authorities informed the Governor’s House about the deployment position of the rangers at the university. They were assured that the 71 Wing of the Rangers would replace the 73 Wing sent to the border. The sources said the area police had also been directed to patrol around and inside the institution to maintain law and order.
Vice Chancellor of the Karachi University Dr Zafar Saeed Zaidi said that the rangers had not been fully withdrawn and there was no indication of their complete withdrawal. However, in case of their withdrawal, the university’s watch and ward would be fully activated and the police would fully cooperate with the university administration, the VC said.
