KARACHI: The Sindh government extended the Rangers’ stay in Karachi by one month late on Wednesday night.

Sources in the Chief Minister’s House told Dawn that Qaim Ali Shah gave the approval after a phone call from PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari from Dubai.

According to Sindh Home Secretary Mukhtiar Soomro, the powers had been given under section 4 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.

The 18th Amendment in the constitution makes it binding upon the provincial government to obtain the Sindh Assembly’s approval for its decision.

Former president Asif Zardari, in his phone call, told the chief minister that better civil-military relations were in the larger interest of the nation and, therefore, was a need to strengthen them further.

He recalled the restoration of law and order in Karachi after the launch of an operation by the paramilitary force.

After the phone call, the chief minister went into a huddle with senior officials of the provincial government at 11.15pm.

Besides the home minister, the meeting was attended by the chief secretary, the home secretary and the principal secretary to the chief minister.

After the consultations, a request was made to the federal interior ministry for an extension of the Rangers stay in Karachi by one month.

The federal government will notify the extension, sources told Dawn.

Published in Dawn, July 9th, 2015

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