ISLAMABAD: The federal government has extended special policing powers of the Rangers in Karachi for 90 days from Tuesday.

“Pursuant to the request made by the home department, the government of Sindh, dated 15th October, 2016 and in continuation of this ministry’s notification No. 9/1/95 –R Sindh dated 3rd August, 2016, the powers conferred upon Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) in Karachi Division under clause (1) of sub-section 4 of Anti-Terrorism 1997 are extended for another period of 90 days with effect from 18th October, 2016,” stated a notification issued by the interior ministry on Monday.

It is for the first time in recent months that the matter has been amicably resolved without any war of words between the centre and the provincial government. In August, a controversy had cropped up when the federal government hinted that the Rangers would be given special policing powers for the entire Sindh – a move that had been strongly resisted by the provincial government that accused the centre of invading the province. In the past, too, there had been deadlocks in the issuance of notification, with the Sindh government accusing the Rangers of overstepping their mandate. The interior minister had earlier warned that the centre had other options available under the law, if Sindh continued to delay a requisition.

The deployment of Pakistan Rangers in Karachi is requisitioned under Article 147 of the constitution, and under clause 1 of sub-section 3 of section 4 of Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. The paramilitary force is authorised to prevent the commission of terrorist acts, or scheduled offences in notified area for the punishment of terrorist in accordance with the provision of the ATA, 1997.The Rangers have been assisting the Karachi police since 1989 when the then PPP government in the centre had called them and the Frontier Constabulary to curb rising political violence in the metropolis. The paramilitary force were later given special policing powers amid increasing number of killings on sectarian, political and ethnic grounds in the city. Since 2013, they have been spearheading an ‘operation’ against criminal elements after the federal cabinet empowered the force to lead a targeted advance with the support of police against criminals already identified by federal military and civilian agencies for their alleged involvement in targeted killings, kidnappings for ransom, extortion and terrorism.

Published in Dawn October 18th, 2016