ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan expressed regret on Tuesday over criticism of Sindh Rangers in a house of parliament and said the paramilitary force had become a symbol of security and confidence in Karachi.

“The well-trained force has played a remarkable role on the borders besides being on the frontline in the war on terror and if there are any complaints against them they could have been raised at the forum of the apex committee headed by the chief minister,” he said while talking to reporters here after inaugurating an auto passport delivery SMS service at the directorate general of immigration and passports.

The statement came a day after scathing criticism of Sindh Rangers in the Senate by Farhatullah Babar of the PPP who said the force had failed to deliver even after getting sweeping powers and brazenly using them.

A calling attention notice on the issue, submitted by Senator Babar, will be taken up on Wednesday.

The interior minister said the Rangers was a federal paramilitary force but its operational command was with the chief minister. “There should be no attempt to undermine its position in parliament,” he said.

He said the Rangers had rendered numerous services over the past year over and above their call of duty.

He said the Sindh Rangers chief had not said anything in deviation of the law. He was of the view that significant improvement could be made by implementing his suggestions.

The minister said no proposal was under consideration to replace Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad.

He said cooperation with the British Home Office in investigation into MQM leader Dr Imran Farooq’s murder case was continuing and the purpose was to bring the perpetrators of the heinous crime to the dock.

Published in Dawn, June 17th, 2015

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