ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali on Tuesday said providing Rangers with accountability powers was unconstitutional, adding that the paramilitary force did not have the mandate to conduct such action in Karachi or any other area.

Referring to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan's recent call for Rangers to conduct an anti-corruption operation in Punjab, Nisar said he was “surprised” that such a demand came from the leader of a political party.

“Calling upon the Rangers or the army for political scoring is not only synonymous with creating controversy in these institutions, but it will ultimately cause the Karachi operation to shift from its primary motives.”

Nisar said while everyone had the right to express themselves freely, there were certain limits to freedom of speech.

Terming the PTI chief's demand as “senseless and inappropriate,” the interior minister said it was unwise to bring the role of security forces under question as “any interference in state institutions for political purposes obstructs the survival of the democratic system and weakens it.”

Chaudhry Nisar further said that the Pakistan of today is “far better than what it was in 2013” with peace returning to Karachi and the law and order situation in the country “visibly improving.”

Imran Khan had yesterday demanded “third-party, independent inquiries of mega corruption scams in Punjab” and invited all federal agencies, especially Rangers and NAB, to begin crackdowns against corruption in Punjab and “even in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa” where his own party rules.

“Agencies should come to Punjab, and even KP to clean what we have been unable to.

“But it is more important than ever to cleanse Punjab because the biggest scams will be found there,” Imran had said.