KARACHI, Nov 22: The provincial government has extended special police powers to Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) for another three months.

The special powers, which were earlier given to the paramilitary force on August 24 for three months, empowered the Rangers to carry out raids, arrest and interrogate suspects before handing them over to the police.

A notification issued by the provincial home department reads: “In continuation of this department’s notification of even number, dated 25.8.2011 the validity of period, for the exercise of powers, envisaged under Section 5 of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997, by Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) within Karachi city, is hereby extended for a further period of three months”.

Section 5 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, titled ‘Use of armed forces and civil armed forces to prevent terrorism,’ reads: “Any police officer, or member of the armed forces, or civil armed forces, who is present or deployed in any area may, after giving sufficient warning, use the necessary force to prevent the commission of terrorist acts or scheduled offences, and, in so doing shall, in the case of an officer of the armed forces or civil armed forces, exercise all the powers of a police officer under the Code”.

It may be recalled that the Rangers director-general had on Sept 6 demanded special police powers for the paramilitary force on a permanent basis. However, under the laws special powers could not be granted for more than 90 days.