Altaf denies DG Rangers' claim; Aitzaz wants proof
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KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaders issued strong reactions to the Sindh Rangers' statements regarding the involvement of political parties in funding terror activities in the province.
Via a telephonic address to his workers on Thursday, MQM supremo Altaf Hussain said that the allegations regarding hides of sacrificial animals and Zakat by Sindh Rangers were "baseless and unfortunate", according to a press release on the party's website.
The Rangers DG briefing to the apex committee had also referred to the “millions of rupees” collected in the name of Zakat and Fitra forcibly every year.
Take a look: Billions of black money being used to fund terrorism in Karachi: Rangers chief
Hussain said that he had been working to gather proof against the most corrupt people of the country and their sources of income.
He said that the money collected through Zakat and hides by his party was used for serving humanity under Khidmat-e-Khalq Foundation (KKF) at the time of the Kashmir earthquake and other natural catastrophes.
Rangers should give evidence, says Aitzaz
Speaking to media representatives outside the Parliament House in Islamabad, senior Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Aitzaz Ahsan on Wednesday questioned as to how the specific Rs230 billion figure was estimated. He said that the Rangers' statement does not specify the basis on which the amount was calculated.
Ahsan expressed skepticism whether the apex committee's rules of conduct allowed disclosure of information, adding that the process is not transparent at all.
He said that an impression is being given as if the Sindh government is in the docks. He said that the PPP is ready to initiate an investigation if solid evidence is presented with regards to the Rangers' claims.
PTI questions govt's course of action
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi questioned the course of action of the federal government in the wake of the claims made by Pakistan Rangers, Sindh.
He said if any members of PTI were found involved in these activities, then they should be probed first. He underscored that his party sought across-the-board action without any bias.
On Thursday, Pakistan Rangers, Sindh claimed to have estimated more than Rs230 billion being generated annually from Karachiites through extortion, smuggling of Iranian diesel, water supply and land-grabbing, mainly patronised by “a major political party”, and that part of that huge amount was also being used for “terror-funding”, a decade-old gang warfare in Lyari and criminal activities across the city.
The claim from the paramilitary force came in a statement citing briefing by Rangers DG Major General Bilal Akbar to the June 4 meeting of the Sindh apex committee, which was chaired by Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah.
Take a look: Billions of black money being used to fund terrorism in Karachi: Rangers chief
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Comments (78) Closed
Jun 12, 2015 01:39pm
Rangers are taking the bull by its horns which is a bold and much awaited step to put Karachi on the road to peace. It would be prudent for the Rangers to disclose the details including the collected evidence to the media because public has the right to know
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Jun 12, 2015 01:49pm
Rangers are supposed to go after criminals and not seek political attention. It is high time they keep their mouth shut and do their job. Their claims are only credible when it could be proved in a court of law.
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Jun 12, 2015 01:51pm
proofs...it is obvious...anyone living in Karachi knows about this and it is not only MQM but all other who collect do the same...misuse of money... Thats another story that due to ethnic / political association we don't want to accept it as we are not honest with us and with our country.
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Jun 12, 2015 01:57pm
If he was referring to party in power than it may make sense as their connections are already known.
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Jun 12, 2015 02:02pm
Call for substantiation of the allegations are fair... If Rangers are leveling the allegations of such magnitude, they should bring the culprits to the Court and not to the media for taking them to Task. Hope the Rs 230 Billion number break-up and its sources with evidences are also produced rather then a wild guess.
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Jun 12, 2015 02:04pm
Rangers had in 1992 announced in a similar way, 72 criminals spread all over Sindh, and then started an operation... what was its result? Credibility is indeed well asked by Mr Aitzaz!
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Jun 12, 2015 02:04pm
Altaf Hussain should take the DG rangers to court and file a defamation suit. The court should make DG rangers to produce the proof.
But you know what? DG rangers WILL produce the proof so AH will never take him to the court.
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Jun 12, 2015 02:05pm
Real problem of karachi is power and wealth game created by political mafin sence decades,and now its Pakistans final survival war.
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Jun 12, 2015 02:09pm
Everybody knows PPP & mqm equation. Two sides of the same coin. What karachi is suffering today , it is just because of these two parties.
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Jun 12, 2015 02:12pm
We need to kill once for all the mafias in country and every one who matters in this country is involved in this loot one way or other way, but the million $ question is " WHO WILL BELL THE CAT".
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Jun 12, 2015 02:15pm
Aitzaz Ahsan knows how much illegal money his party's leadership has made and he must also know how much is being made on a daily basis. So stop pretending to be the clever lawyer asking for proof
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Jun 12, 2015 02:21pm
@AW This is not limited to Karachi, it is all over Pakistan, however the share of loot in Karachi is much higher than rest of the country, because Karachi is the best hunting ground and i.e. the reason every one wants & dreams for one time posting in this city.
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Jun 12, 2015 02:26pm
@Khalid I'm not an MQM supporter but "everyone knows it" has not been established as a valid legal precept.
Accusations must be made in courts of law not in the media and then backed up by proof and due process.
I would rather we pressure our judiciary to dispense speedy justice and media to refrain from their hysterics till accusations are proved in a court of law.
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Jun 12, 2015 02:30pm
He is always in denial mode...what's new!
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Jun 12, 2015 02:41pm
Both PPP and mqm have ruined sindh so Karachi. Today PPP has accused mqm of water crisis. 230 or some other figure Mr aitzaz point is corruption is an at all time high in sind
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Jun 12, 2015 02:42pm
If Rangers can raid 90 then who is stopping them to catch other culprits. They have the powers and government is supporting them so why only issue press releases but no action.
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Jun 12, 2015 02:51pm
Its time that any individuals of political parties involved in criminal activities be exposed by their names and brought to court for justice. System need a clean up with a Big Broom. People have suffered for long time at hands of thugs and criminals acting as so called political leaders. Those in politics to make money, instead of serving the people need to be sorted out, otherwise nothing will change. For years civilian system has failed to protect people, lets hope military would help to protect people from political criminals.
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Jun 12, 2015 03:11pm
Negative Reaction of MQM & PPPP leadership to the Rangers claims shows to what extent these two parties are serious in the people' welfare. They are greedy to rule without accepting responsibility. Rangers don't listen them, arrest/kill all criminals.
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Jun 12, 2015 03:33pm
PPP is on the defense. They knew it very well that they also have done a lot of crimes under the blanket of MQM. Both major parties will definitely criticize Rangers for their indiscriminate action
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Jun 12, 2015 03:36pm
This is now ripe time for the uniform people to come forward and steer the sindh out of present crises of lawlessness; loot and plunder! Else they would face equally wrath of the people for atrocities against them!
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Jun 12, 2015 03:38pm
Establishments wants PIT to take over Karachi, as JI used to do their bidding.
Establishment is unable to find so called credible player.
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Jun 12, 2015 03:42pm
PPP and MQM speaking out openly clearly shows that they are behind all this. Go after them rangers. The whole nation is behind you.
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Jun 12, 2015 03:47pm
stop it u politicians. this is the truth by Rangers. let them do their work honestly. we support them and want to get riddance from these corrupt politics and politicians.
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Jun 12, 2015 03:49pm
Pakistan army and rangers are fighting at two fronts - first hardline terrorists like TTP and other...
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Jun 12, 2015 04:05pm
Some documentary evidence should be produced by DG Rangers in support of such huge allegations and proper investigation has to be carried out at d highest Govt. level and if the claim is justified , stern action should be taken against political party now matter how big the party is.
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Jun 12, 2015 04:06pm
Dear Aitzaz Ahsan saheb : Why ask for "solid evidence" for initiating the investigation ? In that case PPP would not be asked to investigate but the culprits will be arrested and put on trial....as you know well. If..if at all PPP wants to investigate then in that case the revelations of Zulfiqar Mirza are more than sufficient but not a straw has moved so far. What about that ? And if Mirza's claims / allegations are not correct then why not drag him to court with defamation petition ?? You are considered to be a gentleman type of a person but even then you seem to have opted to speak in favour of party.
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Jun 12, 2015 04:09pm
Rangers should put evidence in front of the courts and take legal decision. The job of rangers is not to be the judge jury and executioner. This attitude will lead to further chaos. After all Karachi is experiencing Rangers for the last two decades.
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Jun 12, 2015 04:14pm
There is no doubt that Aitzaz is Senior Lawyer who commands lot of respect but when it comes to Politics he is not a good Politician and some times utters remarks that are not only deplorable but look like a novice's cries as in this Article where he wants proof from the Agency which is at the helm of affairs & its DG is no push over like Politicians of this Country. Proofs,as Aitzaz knows, are provided in a Court of Law not in Media, the figures presented by Rangers must have been collected through sources and any report by Rangers can not be challenged through news papers.
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Jun 12, 2015 04:22pm
I don't know about the remaining, but allegation about hides is 100% correct. Anyone denying that must be regarded as most unreliable person.
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Jun 12, 2015 04:28pm
Both Altaf & Aitzaz admit that their parties are doing what DG Rangers claims because the first one says that it is true but the money does not come from hides of animals, Zakat and Fitra while the second one also says that it is true but the figure of 230 billion rupees is incorrect.
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Jun 12, 2015 04:29pm
Rangers posted in Sindh (Only) are completely politicized and biased everyone knows that.
Gen Raheel Shareef should take strict notice of it as they are bringing bad name to our great Pakistan Army.
Pakistan Army Zindabad
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Jun 12, 2015 04:44pm
This is same Aitazaz Ahsan who defended Zardari for writing letter to Swiss Courts
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Jun 12, 2015 04:48pm
@Arif Khan Absolutely right
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Jun 12, 2015 04:48pm
Think beyond conventional ways....
Ranger is choosing an easy option..just get some political workers and start media trial and claim the complete clearance of terrorism in Karachi. The claim of Rs.230 billion is quite an absurd until raised with solid evidencesIts just an effort to divert the media attention from the complete failure of LEAs in Karachi because every other day we see any policeman is killed in Karachi..Lets not forget the innocent people of Ismaili community in bus carnage.
Well, it may be the issue of 'who eat the cheese pie' especially if the pie is as bigger as Rs.230 billion..slowly and gradually Ranger is becoming a party in Karachi's politics...
For the record purpose, Mr. Shah Mehmood Qureshi and PTI...your (elite surrounded) politics is abruptly rejected by the Karachi people (proof: NA-246) so better to solve the long-standing issues of terrorism in KPK and recent rigging in LG-POLLs and let the people of Karachi and political parties do their job in Karachi.
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Jun 12, 2015 04:57pm
Hot pursuits against killers and corrupt elements be started without losing further time else the country will be ruined!
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Jun 12, 2015 05:03pm
if we have a lot of literate persons in our country then why are these illiterate peoples working in assemblies and Govt.
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Jun 12, 2015 05:07pm
Well, common people in Karachi face what was said. But since government cannot protect them, they won't come out and testify. Of course Altaf will deny all this. Aitezaz Ahsan should not be surprised that PPP government in Sindh is an absolute failure. Let the evidence be produced with millions of witnesses in military court. Speedy justice is needed.
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Jun 12, 2015 05:09pm
@AsR, Are you suggesting that they use bullets to get rid of extortionists? I am sure people of Karachi won't mind that. Then certain parties will cry foul again.
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Jun 12, 2015 05:18pm
corruptions charges on Sindh government? you serious.. these angels does not even know what it is.
i think it is conspiracy against growing economy of sindh and they are jealous of our free WiFi to every one scheme
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Jun 12, 2015 05:33pm
Now where this seasonal money come out from..He been hiding for long he wants the proof which he already have and of not RANGERS will provide one dont worry...
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Jun 12, 2015 05:34pm
Mr. Aitzaz Hussain, for once please become a Pakistani Patriot instead of a Lawyer. For once do the right thing for the country instead of making money. How much do you need?
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Jun 12, 2015 05:36pm
RANGERS didn't say any names in public I can see who is nervous and guilty....
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Jun 12, 2015 05:40pm
Rangers are no different from the Pakistan Political Parties and the Armed Forces. All together have been responsible for the land grabbing in Pakistan. So who is going to clean this cancer. Do we have any honorable person?
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Jun 12, 2015 05:58pm
Airezaz Ahsan Sahab you means to say their calculation is wrong. That must be more than that figure?
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Jun 12, 2015 06:00pm
Good Job Pak Army and Rangers. Long Live Pakistan
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Jun 12, 2015 06:22pm
I trust the Rangers more then the MQM.
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Jun 12, 2015 06:26pm
Whenever a report cones public means nothing would b done on it .... Proofs ...Lol funny I think there would b about 10 million people in Karachi who can witness it ....
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Jun 12, 2015 06:28pm
What is the hitch in arresting the bosses and their team of the criminals and mafias gathering bhatta in different accounts by the DG Rangers.He must also include Karachi Traffic police which makes billions every year from pillion riders and transport.We must prove to the nation that we are against corruption and terrorism.
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Jun 12, 2015 06:34pm
What is been said by DG Rangers is very vague and it won’t amount to anything until it is taken to a court with solid evidences without a reasonable doubt. In fact if any of this is true and not a hearsay then it is the job of the Rangers to share evidences with the attorney journal of Pakistan and then AJ needs to bring charges against the culprits.
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Jun 12, 2015 06:38pm
It is open secret that All the political parties have militant wing who collect Bhattas and are involved in target killings and that is why the culprits gat away after killings.
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Jun 12, 2015 06:55pm
Everyone knows Aitzaz stands by corrupt people of PPP knowing cases like RPP, Ayan Ali, and to name a few..
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Jun 12, 2015 06:56pm
We are proud of you 'Pak Rangers',
now it's time for the government to take some bold decisions rather getting political benefits
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Jun 12, 2015 06:59pm
You want evidence. Talk to any business owner in Karachi!
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Jun 12, 2015 07:13pm
@AsR
Why so much venom against Rangers. They are doing great job.
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Jun 12, 2015 07:19pm
I fully support Pak Army, Rangers and the armed forces.
I'm not surprised at all that these political parties are the ones raise for terroriam, killings, extortion and smuggling.
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Jun 12, 2015 07:23pm
The people raising the question should confirm their own credibility, walk in the streets of Karachi, try to confront the relevant people, what rangrs had quoted is obliviously obvious
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Jun 12, 2015 07:31pm
People who drain out millions to reach the assemblies will naturally try to get their money back. One cannot expect them to sacrifice their money for the 'awam'. If one wants to serve the people, one needs to be honest to one's bone. Is there any in this country? If we are to get rid of criminals we need to eliminate at list 30 million or may be more. If one has the courage one may step forward.
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Jun 12, 2015 07:35pm
IMHO, there must be ban on collecting hides of sacrificial animals. These should go to the respective municipality as compensation for cleaning and disposing the mess left behind after the sacrifice.
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Jun 12, 2015 07:39pm
Only PPP and MQM objected DIG Ranger's findings, because?
DIG Saheb actions are needed, not just reports and conferences.
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Jun 12, 2015 07:58pm
Those asking for action should understand how the system works. Rangers can apprehend the criminals and that is where there role ends and the role of the administration begins. It is the Provincial government which has to bring the charges against the criminals and prosecute them. Since the criminals are all political mafias the chances of that happening are near zero as we all know. This situation calls for a complete overhaul of the political and judicial systems.
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Jun 12, 2015 08:08pm
DG Rangers claim is true, they threaten you if you do not give them the hides and fitra( we take an extra amount consider paid to them as not counting towards fitra)
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Jun 12, 2015 08:19pm
@Sab Se Pehle Pakistan Can you make arrangements for providing water for Karachi before you start giving us your expert views from your myopic vision.
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Jun 12, 2015 08:22pm
Mr. Aetezaz and Mr. Altaf please prove that what DG rangers is saying is not correct. Every one knows who forcibly snatch hides of sacrificed animals. If every thing is normal then why Karachi is becoming main hub of every kind of Mafia. Please note that PPP and MQM shared Sindh affairs together for a long time.
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Jun 12, 2015 08:33pm
Biggest let down is Aitzaz Hussain. His role in lawyers movement and later on with the PPP govt is deplorable. He is the biggest disappointment.
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Jun 12, 2015 08:41pm
I guess this time it is PPP's turn...
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Jun 12, 2015 08:44pm
@Nadeem True, perfect comment
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Jun 12, 2015 08:53pm
Rangers must not listen to politicians. Have ever thieves accept committed crimes? These politicians are ruling in Sind for decades with no performance. I believe that if Rangers will reveal the names, these politicians will escape from Pakistan. Just take silent actions and put them behind bars.
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Jun 12, 2015 09:07pm
@AsR If this issue goes to the Court, it will be an uphill task for both parties as well as the Courts. It will go on for years. This is beyond doubt that Bhatta is being collected from the houses, factories, schools, hospitals, shops, transporters - you name it. Want proof ? Absurd notion. Baldia Factory was put on fire and more than 250 were burnt for not paying Bhatta. Ruputable lawyers had been defending for money, highly corrupt politicians and this has enboldened the criminals. Defending criminals is as good as adding to the crime.
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Jun 12, 2015 09:22pm
As in the past politicians will do anything to save skin of their corrupt colleagues in the name of democracy. Rangers should not spare anyone involved in corruption and terrorism no matter how influential they may be. Time to act is now otherwise people of Pakistan will lose trust (whatever remains) in the accountability process initiated recently. There will be some initial negative reaction from the affiliates (bureaucrats, politicians etc) of those involved in corruption but law enforcers should stay firm in their resolve. Pakistan needs surgery. Go rangers go, the nation will appreciate your hard work.
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Jun 12, 2015 09:32pm
Aitzaz Hussain is clearly giving message that he will represent PPP in the courts. But let me assure to Aitzaz that this time no politician will be able to hire you to represent them. Instead, you must start worry about yourself now. Army has no time to waste in convicted criminals. Army is in hurry to make Pakistan prosperous.
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Jun 12, 2015 09:33pm
This is very unfortunate that political parties have become party against forces so as to make operatio failure to achieve their own mottos.we all pray to God for unbiased operation.
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Jun 12, 2015 11:13pm
law should be equal for everyone regardless of their race, religion, ethnicity or their positions in the society. So why is it that if a politician or political party does something wrong or is in process of breaking the law they are warned get accused on the media but poor man gets picked up without any notice.
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Jun 13, 2015 12:11am
Mr. Aitzaz..
Please... You are not that NAIVE...
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Jun 13, 2015 02:50am
why not MQM and PPP can talk in the same tone as did PTI ?
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Jun 13, 2015 03:33am
Rangers must file FIR and take to task the culprits, no matter how big they are. Now rangers have the option of (constitutionally correct) Army courts too. If with such unprecedented powers the rangers can't prosecute the criminals then who else will be able to do so. Pakistan needs ACTIONS and not words. I think Aitzaz is doing the right thing by asking about the proofs, if rangers have any. It is simply the matter of credibility for the rangers in particular and Pak Army in general.
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Jun 13, 2015 06:42am
Catch them all and give them the most harsh punishments possible.
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Jun 13, 2015 10:46am
Boy! More trouble and credibiltiy issues! I think Aw and ASR said it more plainly than I would!
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Jun 14, 2015 08:36am
The boys from the party knock on the doors a day before and tell people that the animals pelts belong to them or else
My question is if anyone dares to defy them , who will come for protection , these corrupt and rat infested police
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