Rangers' special powers in Karachi within Constitution, law: Nisar

E-Paper | April 24, 2026

RAWALPINDI: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Saturday said that Rangers in Karachi have been given special powers within the limits of the Constitution and the law of Pakistan.

“All political forces and state institutions must work in a united fashion to resolve issues facing Pakistan,” said Nisar while speaking to media representatives in Rawalpindi.

Read: Rangers won’t be deployed without legal cover: Nisar

Answering a question regarding the recent judicial commission report, he said: “The verdict of the judicial commission is based on facts and evidence provided, and not rumours and media reports.”

The interior minister had said last month that the federal government would not deploy paramilitary forces in Karachi without legal cover.

He also stated earlier that there were attempts to create an impression that Rangers’ deployment in Karachi was either unwelcome or not in accordance with the law, which was deplorable.

Also read: Sindh govt extends Rangers stay in Karachi for a year

The Sindh government had extended, on July 9, the special policing powers assigned to Rangers in the province for a month, which were later extended for a year on July 17.

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.

Pakistan

Citizen taken into custody for likening Tarnol Railway Crossing to Strait of Hormuz

CJP says transferring judge back to SHC would render key constitutional ideals redundant

11-year-old boy feared drowned after being swept away while swimming in open water line in Karachi

Cy rus

Jul 25, 2015 06:11pm

Time for Pakistan's politicians to stop confusing the issue and playing with people's lives. The Rangers are going after dangerous criminals not legitimate political workers.

Recommend 0

anaff

Jul 25, 2015 06:15pm

Dear Ch Nisar, we applaud your hard work and countless efforts to rid the country, especially Karachi from criminals. thank you ch Nisar

Recommend 0

kmat

Jul 25, 2015 06:16pm

Great job Rangers, keep doing what you are doing

Recommend 0

jomann

Jul 25, 2015 06:37pm

Thank you Ch Nisar, keep the pressure on the criminals. thank you, thank you, ch Nisar. man from Karachi

Recommend 0

Abid

Jul 25, 2015 06:41pm

Mr. Nisar. I consider him the only rational and true personality in the whole Nawaz / Shahbaz team. I am just wondering when his patience level will be reached with these guys.

Recommend 0

Muhammad

Jul 25, 2015 06:45pm

I'm not a fan of PML (N); but I have started liking this man

Recommend 0

Dr Sparta

Jul 25, 2015 07:00pm

Terrible terrible mistake you guys are making. Criminal politicians are better than good dictators. There are no shortcuts to achieve prosperity and peace.

Recommend 0

KeyPoints

Jul 25, 2015 08:15pm

Don't worry about constitution, it'll be still there after all the actions. Its time to save the country from foreign agents, disguised as politicians, its time to save precious lives of pakistani citizens, being killed every day at hands of bhatta khores, target killers. It may be too little, too late, but cry of corrupt politicians should not stop the actions, to root out corrupt officials, corrupt politicians, land mafia and all those hell bent to destabilize and destroy pakistan. Problem is that no big fish is caught in the net, so this terror-plus-corruption drama goes on & people are getting killed left & right every day.

Recommend 0

Iqbal Musani

Jul 25, 2015 08:46pm

When justice Baqar Report in Press about Model Town. Treat all National criminal equal.

Recommend 0

Noshin

Jul 25, 2015 09:37pm

Ok it's all right! I don't understand onething about our statesmen if Pakistan is facing issues every day then why does they issue orders and statements Seldom in weeks...

Recommend 0

Noshin

Jul 25, 2015 09:39pm

Well said ch. Nisar!

Recommend 0

fakhar waleed

Jul 25, 2015 11:08pm

There is martial law in this country,democratic system is a dummy now.Constitution has been suspended.Every one knows.

Recommend 0

Denali

Jul 25, 2015 11:38pm

Mr. Minister - the same constitution applies to all of PK. Why be selective ?

Recommend 0

mohammad Akhtar

Jul 26, 2015 01:39am

Ch. Nisar thank you for understanding every ordinary Pakistani's need and working towards eliminating terrorism.

Recommend 0

Akber

Jul 26, 2015 03:21am

Ch sahab, wait till these special powers are used against you sometime. MQM has faced tough times before and will survive this round as well. Your efforts to control Karachi has not worked in past and will not this time too.

Recommend 0

Haque Parast

Jul 26, 2015 04:39am

Even rangers have admitted that the operation is against one political party. I dare the got to have a referendum and let the people of Karachi decide if the Rangers are welcomed or not.

Recommend 0

Change

Jul 26, 2015 05:35am

If special powers for rangers is justified then why not special powers for army in Kashmir

Recommend 0

Jul 26, 2015 06:40am

@Muhammad same is with me. Don't know what has transpired him that he started talking sensibly and working tirelessly. Is that the fight with Aitzaz Ahsan or not naming Geo tv upon PM's request in the national assembly. Something has worked for him!

Recommend 0

Riaz

Jul 26, 2015 08:08am

What is paramount, constitution or the people and their national interest? If something does good and solves a dire problem facing the country and its people, even if it is outside the constitution, it is most welcome; in which case the constitution becomes an obstruction rather than an asset. The looting politicians use one article of the constitution to protect their vested interest and then violate several other articles of the same constitution by indulging in loot and plunder. If anyone or anything gets in the way of their loot, it challenges writ of the government, primacy of the parliament and puts democracy in danger. They have been playing this worn out CD for far too long.

Recommend 0

Syed Ali

Jul 26, 2015 08:29am

Good job in Karachi; by the way when are you going to deploy Rangers in Punjab to control terroristic organizations? Keep up the good work.

Recommend 0

KHI91

Jul 26, 2015 09:44am

I am very much against MQM and Altaf Hussain but now I start to realize that the operation by rangers is biased against MQM only (Which constitutes 60% of terror) in Karachi. Rest of the forces are working happily as usual. It is not across the board. Please do something for Liyari, Sohrab Goth, Esa Nagri, Orangi Town, Banaras, etc. in Karachi so other forces also get stopped.

Recommend 0

Branded Content

Indus Cloud signs strategic partnership agreement with PTCL to deliver cloud excellence

The partnership marks a significant step in Indus Cloud’s and PTCL’s joint efforts to strengthen Pakistan’s cloud and data centre infrastructure and expand access to enterprise-grade digital services in the country.