KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has said that there are some legal and constitutional misunderstandings between Sindh and federal governments on the powers of Rangers and these will be resolved amicably very soon as his government is committed to implementing the National Action Plan worked out with the collective wisdom of political and military leadership.

He was speaking to members of three bar associations — Sindh High Court Bar, Karachi Bar and Malir Bar — during a meeting held at the CM House here on Thursday.

Also read: Sindh Assembly adopts resolution seeking to curtail Rangers’ powers

Expressing his gratitude to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif for their support and cooperation in restoring peace in Karachi, the chief minister said: “Police and Rangers have given a lot of sacrifices for restoration of peace in the city for which they deserve appreciations” and added that it was mandatory for every institution to work within its domain and legal framework.

Mr Shah said that his government had inherited a very bad law and order situation from Musharraf’s tenure.

“Serious terrorist incidents like the attack on Corps Commander Karachi, the Nishtar Park tragedy and even attacks on convoys of General Musharraf and various other incidents are worth mentioning here to assess the situation of that time,” he said and added that it was his government which took drastic measures to restore law and order in the province in general and in Karachi in particular.

“This peace has not returned merely with the lip service but has taken a lot of efforts, funds and practical steps like capacity building of police force, developing close coordination with different intelligence agencies, and on the top of it Jawans of our law-enforcement agencies like police and Rangers have given their blood for the peace,” he said,

The chief minister urged lawyers to play their role for the rule of law. “Your struggle for restoration of democracy in the country is unforgettable,” he pointed out.

Mr Shah said like his party’s leaders he was a great supporter of the media freedom. But, he added, “our media never highlights achievements of the Sindh government”.

“Yesterday, I along with PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, inaugurated a trauma centre, first of its kind in Pakistan, but our media, instead of highlighting this achievement, conducted our media trial,” he deplored.

Those present on the occasion included president of the Sindh High Court Bar Khalid Javed Khan, vice president of High Court Bar Sarfraz Mirza, general secretary of Sindh High Court Bar Mubeen Lakho, president of Karachi Bar Association Mahmoodul Hassan, vice president of Karachi Bar Shujaat Ahmed, general secretary of Karachi Bar Haq Nawaz Talpur, president of Malir Bar Aijaz Bangesh and president of People Lawyers Forum Qazi M. Bashir.

Khalid Javed said that democracy provided solution of all problems. It is a best system in which people are sovereign.

“You (the chief minister) have made untiring efforts to restore peace in Karachi. Today everyone feels secure because of Sindh government’s practical measures.”

Published in Dawn, December 25th, 2015