KARACHI: While the Rangers director general sat silently in a meeting held at Governor House on Thursday, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad took pains to convince religious scholars of different schools of thought that the provincial government had not curtailed the powers of the paramilitary force.

During the meeting held to review the arrangements for the 12th Rabiul Awwal celebrations and maintenance of law and order on the day, the governor assured the ulema that the operation would continue “at all costs”.

The meeting took place a day after the Sindh Assembly conditionally ratified the Rangers’ stay in the province and curtailed their powers.

The ulema unanimously expressed their concerns over the curtailment of Rangers’ power and said that peace in the metropolis was only because of the Rangers-led operation.

Sunni Tehreek leader Shahid Ghori, who was one of the participants in the meeting, told Dawn that they demanded that the Rangers special powers be restored forthwith for maintaining peace and order.

He said that the governor replied that the Rangers-led operation against terrorism and crimes was like a motorway journey where no U-turns or signals were allowed. “The impression being given about curtailment of Rangers’ power is totally wrong,” the ST leader quoted the governor as telling the meeting. Mr Ghori said Rangers DG Major General Bilal Akbar did not speak during the meeting.

According to a statement issued from Governor House, Dr Ibad told the participants in the meeting that the implementation of the National Action Plan would continue, as the whole nation and the federal and provincial governments fully backed the security forces.

“We are facing an extraordinary situation and the political and military leadership wants to end the menace of terrorism ... We cannot afford to stop this operation and the provincial government will continue it, as no one wants instability in the province and the metropolis,” the governor said.

He paid tribute to the sacrifices of the security forces, which he said were fighting for the survival of the people.

“We all have to fight this war collectively,” he said and assured the ulema that no act of the provincial government was aimed at even slowing down the operation.

He urged the ulema to extend full cooperation to the administration and security forces and ensure implementation on the code of conduct for 12th Rabiul Awwal.

Shah Turab-ul-Haq, Haji Hanif Tayyab, Qari Usman, Siddique Rathore, Allama Furqan Abidi, Chief Minister’s Adviser on Religious Affairs Dr Qayyum Soomro, the Karachi police chief, commissioner and other senior officials were present.

Earlier, the Rangers DG called on Dr Ibad and discussed issues regarding the ongoing targeted operation in Karachi and security measures for 12th Rabiul Awwal.

According to a press release issued by Governor House, Maj Gen Bilal Akbar and Dr Ibad expressed the resolve that maintenance of peace and elimination of crime in Karachi and other parts of the province would be ensured.

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2015