May 24, 2008	Saturday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 18, 1429

KARACHI, May 23: The senate’s standing committee on interior affairs has found serious flaws in the intelligence system of Pakistan Rangers, Sindh, which they said had resulted in an increase in the city’s crime rate.

A senior member of the committee said on Friday that the paramilitary force high-ups who met the committee the other day had been asked to enhance their intelligence services, as lack of such ability would negate the argument that Rangers was doing their job in accordance with the requirements of citizens.

“This city (Karachi) possesses a lot of importance for the whole country, and it needs extra measures for the security of the common man living here,” Senator Mohammad Talha Mahmood Aryan, chairman of the committee, told a press conference at the Karachi Press Club on the last day of his official visit to the city where he met top officials of law-enforcement agencies.

“But during the recent meeting with the Rangers’ high-ups we found that their intelligence system leaves a lot to be desired. It is needed to be addressed at the earliest. We are ready to propose all due facilities for the force in Karachi but in return Karachians must expect security of their lives and property, which unfortunately has not been the case,” he added.

The committee has also proposed an increase in the number of troops based in Karachi by recruiting youngsters residing here which the senators believed would help in two ways. First, it would help strengthen relations of local residents with the paramilitary force, the chairman said. “Second, it would ultimately provide employment opportunities to youngsters, who have potential and passion to serve in the forces,” he added.

Being the chairman of the senate interior affairs committee, he was convinced that crime control and law-enforcement was the prime job of police across the country, but he was unable to recommend the withdrawal of Rangers from the urban centre, the senator said in reply to a question.

“Mandate of the senate committees is limited, as they can’t take decision but recommend people’s will with conviction to the authorities concerned, who should reach the conclusion on our feedback,” he added.

Consuming more than Rs300 million of the provincial funds every year, the Rangers have been staying in Karachi since 1989, when they were first called for a temporary assistance to the police by a Pakistan People’s Party government to curb rising political violence in the metropolis.

Two decades on, the 12,000 personnel of the paramilitary force are occupying public buildings, including those of educational institutions, and the government seems to be arranging for alternative and permanent residential facilities to the troops with no plan of their withdrawal in near future.

“Actually, this is not very simple to immediately call back the troops and as far as the alternative and permanent residence for the Rangers are concerned, by the time they are here, our troops should live with dignity rather than occupying public buildings and other facilities for that purpose,” he observed.

Police reforms

The committee chairman also spoke about the senators’ meeting with the Sindh Inspector-General of Police Dr Shoaib Suddle, who briefed them about the ongoing reforms in the department.

“The Sindh Police have got Rs100 million to bring police stations in order,” said the senator.

“Similarly, we have been informed that Rs1,000 has been increased in the salary of low-ranking policemen, which appears to be a good sign in the new police set-up.”

He said the committee had prepared a proposal for the authorities, suggesting them to reshape the Sindh Police on the pattern of Motorway Police and increase funds for the department. “It is very unfortunate that there are serious discriminations between the police of two different provinces,” said Mr Aryan.

“For instance, the family of a martyred policeman in Punjab gets Rs500,000 as compensation while in Sindh the compensation offered is Rs300,000. These may sound very petty issues but I personally believe that they cast serious impact on the morale of policemen and affect their performance,” he added.