KARACHI: Rangers given key role in maintaining law & order: Local body elections
KARACHI, July 14: Federal Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao on Thursday said that Pakistan Rangers would play key role in maintaining peace during upcoming local body polls so that they could be held in free, fair, transparent and tranquil environment. Addressing a press conference here at Rangers Headquarters, he said that the upcoming local body elections were very important for the country, as they were the second elections under the devolution plan.
“The aim of my visit to Karachi is to review security arrangements of local body polls so that they can be held in a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere,” he stated.
Lauding the services of Rangers, he said that Rangers had played a significant role in ‘war on terror’, adding that unearthing new terrorist organizations such as Harkatul Mujahideen Al-Almi, arrest of many hardcore criminals and killing of Amjad Farooqi were some of the major achievements of Rangers.
Aftab Sherpao assured that integral accommodation, transport, manpower and security equipment would be provided to Rangers.
Regarding security arrangements for local body elections particularly in Karachi, he said that ‘political tempo’ in Karachi for the polls was high as a major player, which had boycotted the last elections, was also participating in the upcoming polls. He asked people to repose confidence in government for holding free and fair polls in peaceful and tranquil atmosphere.
When asked about chances of military deployment during the polls in Sindh, especially Karachi, keeping in view the experience of last year by-elections in which more than 13 people had lost their lives, he said that maintenance of law and order was the prime responsibility of police as well as agencies. He said that the government would use all law enforcement agencies for maintaining peace during local government polls.
To another query about London bomb blast, he said that Pakistan had agreements with more than 48 countries, including the UK, to share ‘information’.
About the presence of remnants of Al Qaida in Pakistan, he said, “We are taking actions against foreign terrorist elements and Pakistan has played proactive role in war on terror.” He said the network of Al Qaida in Pakistan territory had been destroyed. However, he added, there was possibility of foreign elements scattered in the country and the government was using all its available resources for total elimination of terrorism in whatever form it might be. In this regard, he quoted the United States declaring Pakistan as number one state fighting against terrorism.
Later at a high-level meeting held in Governor’s House on Thursday afternoon, it was decided that the civil bodies would take care of all arrangements, including security, of local body polls in the province and in this regard police would be provided with all possible backup support and resources.
The meeting, presided over by Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad, was attended by Federal Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Sherpao, Provincial Home Minister Rauf Siddiqui, DG Rangers Major-General Zia Javed, Chief Secretary Fazlur Rehman, Provincial Police Officer Asad Jehangir, besides Adviser for Information Salahuddin Haider.
It was also decided that the Election Commission’s code of conduct regarding holding of the local body polls would be implemented in letter and spirit. Any activity aimed at harming law and order would be suppressed without any discrimination and there would be complete ban on display of arms in the whole province.
The governor asked the officials concerned to set up control rooms in this regard within three days, while police were asked to finalize all arrangements well before the polls. The meeting was told that the police and Rangers would chalk out their plans regarding dividing Karachi into three security zones to ensure its foolproof security.
Federal Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Sherpao said that all candidates would be provided with level-playing atmosphere, and holding of polls in free, transparent, impartial and peaceful manner would be ensured. The officials concerned were asked to prepare their strategies for taking stakeholders into confidence at all levels, so that the polls could be held in a peaceful atmosphere.—PPI/ APP
