KARACHI: A row erupted between police and the Pakistan Rangers, Sindh, on Tuesday when police issued advertisements in local dailies seeking public assistance in tracing of at least six missing persons allegedly picked up by “unknown Rangers” from parts of Orangi Town.

Desperate attempts were made by the Sindh government and police authorities to avert a crisis as first Home Minister Suhail Anwar Siyal took “notice” of the advertisement and then Sindh IG Ghulam Hyder Jamali set up an inquiry committee to look into the matter.

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“The advertisements titled `announcement’ also carried photograph of each missing person and sought public support appealing to them to share information about the missing persons if anyone had any so that their recovery could be made possible,” said a police official citing content of the advertisements.

“The advertisements were released by a DSP rank officer who holds the office of sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Orangi Town.” Under due process, the advertisement was recommended by the SP investigation who is abroad these days. The DSP was named only `as contact person’ because the missing persons were residents of areas under his jurisdiction.

Though there was no official reaction from the Pakistan Rangers, Sindh, sources said the issue had been discussed at the highest level which led to the taking of notice of the matter by the home minister.

The Sindh IG suspended the DSP concerned and set up the committee under additional IG CTD Sanaullah Abbassi to investigate the matter.

Published in Dawn, October 7th, 2015

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