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ISLAMABAD: The ruling party is still considering whether it should deploy Rangers in Punjab, as in Sindh, to carry out an operation against hardcore criminals and banned outfits based in the southern districts of the province.
The military establishment, in its assessment, sources in the provincial capital Lahore as well as the federal capital say, has recommended a Rangers-led operation in Punjab.
The issue came up for discussion first at the provincial apex committee meeting and has now landed before the Prime Minister’s Office. The security establishment thinks that Punjab police lack the training and the equipment to face terrorists, sources say, which was why the assignment must be handed over to Rangers.
However, the Shahbaz Sharif-led provincial government is of the view that it can handle the task through its Counter-Terrorism Department and the Elite Force, but this would require special weaponry and support from the military.
The provincial authorities are of the view that if provided with the proper equipment, the Elite Force could deliver the required results.
At the high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday, which was also attended by the Punjab CM and the Lahore corps commander, it was suggested by the army leadership that Rangers could be used for an operation in the province if the government wanted.
Talking to Dawn, a PML-N office-bearer close to the prime minister said that the districts where an operation could be planned include Rahim Yar Khan, Rajanpur and D.G. Khan. These districts are known for being home to and breeding grounds for militants and banned organisations.
Sources in the ruling party said the Punjab government would try its best to make do with its own Elite Force instead of calling in the Rangers. This, he said, would reflect poorly on the provincial government. Of course, he said, if Rangers come to Punjab, they will have the same powers they were exercising in Karachi.
“The prevailing security situation in Punjab was discussed during Wednesday’s meeting and now the decision lies with the PM; whether to seek assistance from Rangers in Punjab or not,” another source privy to the meeting told Dawn. The military establishment believed that to take the National Action Plan to its logical conclusion, Rangers should be used in the province, he said.
Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah was not available for comment, despite repeated attempts.
Published in Dawn, January 14th, 2016
Comments (62) Closed
Fully endorse the military view. The operation has to be fair and impartial. Departments reporting to the provincial government may not take action against those with political affiliations.
Salutations to Rangers in Punjab. The Punjab police/Elite forces are unprofessional, substandard, ineffecient and unskillful.
@KPk That is not a good thing to say. Our forces need our support!
@KPk KP is following the standard set by Elite force Punjab and the Rescue 1122 model of Punjab. Moreover most of the cases of Homicide DNA investigation of KP are carried at Punjab's forensic science laboratory. Punjab do have problems but it is far far better than any other province in terms of Professionalism.
@KPK plus Corrupt to the Core.
@Mare I am sorry -- the "Punjab police/Elite forces are unprofessional, substandard, inefficient and unskillful" is more likely true than not. And corruption just like the 'ruling party'.
@KPk Police in Punjab is highly competent troll. Check your facts before u comment.
My vote is for rangers. I think right now Army is serious in rooting out terror from the country. It maybe general Raheel Sharif but either way let's support what's right.
@Sallu Bhai The recommendations my comment is getting says everything!
@Shafaqat Ali Yes agree, Sorry i missed that one.
A cleaning operation in Punjab is long overdue. There are radical elements especially in Southern Punjab that need to be dealt with. The operation should start with the Rangers and depending on the progress, may be the Punjab Elite force (if there is indeed any such thing) should be brought in later in the operation. It is operation cleanup time in Punjab.
My vote is with the Rangers. Go rangers go.
@Mare You mean Rangers
Police in Punjab is not equipped to handle and cater these kind of Problems, Rangers has been Successful in Sindh, same strategy and professionalism can cater the problem of militancy in Southern Punjab ... Let all agree that we all love our country and its People ... lets end militancy and terrorism in Pakistan
Police will be pressured by politicians. Rangers all the way
Rangers should do operation in Rural Sindh, Punjab and KPK if they really want to get Rid of Terrorism, Mafia, criminals along with Wadara's, Chaudry's, Zamindar's etc.. who hurts PAK more baddly
Like Karachi, rangers should be deployed in all infested cities of Punjab without any further delay. If Punjab government/police was capable then it would have delivered by now. There in no need to live on promises - results are the one that matters.
Yes to Rangers in Punjab. Police in Punjab is corrupt and highly politicized. Rangers should be deployed in Punjab.
If Rangers are the "remedy" for the ills of this democratic country, let them go to every nook and corner of Pakistan.
Any operation in punjab under PNL_N government can't be trusted. Punjab Rangers must start and lead the operation.
Love to Ranger operation in Punjab in urban and rural area. Punjab police and elite forces are CM forces. Sindh rural area too.
@Mare KPK is supporting our forces by speaking the truth. As the first step of solving a problem is to recognize that you have a problem and KPK has done it by recognizing that Punjab police / Elite forces are not capable. Now the second part of the problem solving is how to make them effective?......
Bad news for Rana Sanaullah. I am sure Punjab Government will not agree to deploying rangers. Very interesting development indeed.
We want Rangers in Punjab to safe innocent lives under threat of proscribed organization.
@KPk. Very true.
Whats good for the goose (Sindh) must be good for the gander (Punjab). Go Rangers go to Punjab.
Getting rid of Rana Sanaullah as the Law Minister woudl be an excellent first step in ridding Punjab of criminals.
No need for Rangers in Punjab. CTD and Punjab Police are competent enough for the tasks.
Why the ruling party is scared to have rangers on their head. and Why CM is hesitating to accept that his police is incapable, corrupt and politically used...
Rangers should be deployed in Punjab with the same powers as in Karachi. No second thoughts, need to clean the whole country of terrorism and corrupted.
Rangers are most welcome to the land of Five Rivers.
But this is not a permanent solution. We should make all our law enforcement agencies unpolitical as well as train them.
@Sallu Bhai are you kidding sallu bhai.... punjab police highly professional... hahaha
The corrupt govt of punjab doesn't want rangers because they want to hide there & there cronies crimes plus loot & plunder...
No harm in using rangers. Police is a different kind of force, trained and equipped to deal with ordinary criminals. But these terrorists are highly trained and highly motivated and armed to the teeth. So only rangers and army can properly deal with them.
@iffi Childish remarks. Fed by daily cheap propaganda on facebook etc.
If honours are being looted, cars are being stolen and snatched at gun point and punjab police is silent then what is terrorism other than this. Rangers operation is strictly required in punjab also,
This was very obvious. Punjab regime is being there was very long time and yet they failed to make police as viable and effective to meet the challenges. Rangers induction in Province surely means that Regime had failed in law and order aspect. Definitely money trail will make political unrest just like in Sind.
PML-N will always oppose rangers because they fear their own connections with hardliners will be exposed plus their corruption of last eight years will be exposed just like PPP.
@Tariq No, it simply means that police is a different force trained and equipped for a different purpose. This task is altogether and needs a different force. Rangers is also a tool of this "regime" and use of it does not show the failure. That's why we keep police, rangers, FC, army, navy and air force. Different jobs different tools. I hope you understand.
@KPk Yet - it has the lowest level of terrorism and street crime amongst all provinces. Co-incidence?
@Multinational Bhabi it seems u live in a big house and dont even come out of ur house to see what crimes are going in punjab !!!
When will people understand that Rangers are doing an excellent job because they are totally independent from government control. Punjab police CANNOT do decent job until they are totally free and independent.
Give government ultimatum, either make Punjab police totally free and independent or let Rangers do the job. Simple.
Finally, about time. South Punjab needs to be cleaned out even more thoroughly than Karachi.
A big YES for Rangers in the whole of Punjab, no exceptions.
Clearly "Takht-e-Lahore" is shaking. They know what is coming their way. And we , the people of Pakistan are rejoicing :) .
Finally, much awaited news of Rangers in Punjab! SS and NS are living in ga-ga land if they think they can train the elite force to tackle hard-core terrorists and criminal elements in just a few months. A ranger has been trained for years before he is deployed on such missions, and difference in fitness levels alone will be world apart. NS better be prepared to reign in and get rid of all the criminal elements in PMLN as Rangers will no spare anyone.
The earlier this operation is, the better it will be and it must be launched throughout the Punjab.
Everyone has been waiting for this.
I will only believe it when the rangers operation actualy happens in Panjab. This operation should have been done a long time ago. Panjab has become a safe heaven for criminals and banned outfits. The police has become more of a private security force of PML-N and their families.
Different factors influence the process of countering terrorism.Whether talk about incapabilities, lack of courage, absence of training or deficient will , or a mindset that makes people around feel as as there are sympathisers and insiders in forces/agencies having soft corner for terrorists.Whatever its is, solution needs a quick response and not a dumb reaction.Why not Rangers can operate in Punjab, they are a capable force with profound experience in fighting terrorism, they are already deployed in more than 2 provinces,thus sole Punjab should not be a no go area for them
It's not only about KP police/Elite Force, or Punjab police/Elite Force, it's about Pakistan. Please do not politicize every matter within Provinces and make Provinces within Pakistan as separate states. Elite Force are trained by Military and they don't train them on basis of KP, Pubjab, Sindh, or Balochistan.
Of course why would they expose Punjab to Rangers. They are smart enough to shoot in their own foot.
Rangers and military have to do this cleanup in Punjab. Being the nursery and headquarters of most extremist outfits, punjab cannot rely on their police and civilian courts.
Cleanup the country simultaneously in all provinces so these law breakers don't play hide and seek by jumping provinces.
half and half - get the rangers to train-up the Provincial forces so in the longer term they can deal with it themselves
@kanwarch : "Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah was not available for comment, despite repeated attempts." Yes!!! It is a bad news for Rana Sanaullah.That is why he is not available for comments. Bringing in Rangers in to Punjab will counter all his monopolistic agendas.And Shahbaz Sharif is also against bringing in Rangers.It means these two guys do not want any one interfering in their authority, whether they are able to control militant groups or not.
If the action is taken, wouldn't that be bad enough for the Shareef brothers. It will reignite the governance debate a no for the two brothers, however the biggest obstacle is why target Punjab as bad as it sounds the Punjab dominated provincial and Fed bureaucracies will never let that happen. As this may lead to wider investigation of both the Lahori and Islamabad political leaders as well as bureaucrats. Full scale investigation will never be conducted in Punjab even the military establishment knows that by doing so more and more retired military personnel will be exposed. Right now we are linking Gen (r) Pervez Kayani's brother Kamran, who knows there are may be more who will come of the box.
A big YES to the Rangers operation in Punjab. I am from Lahore and I know well how corrupt and politicized Punjab Police is.
CTD reports to criminals who will be arrested in Rangers led operations. Hence Shabaz Sharif's insistence on not letting Rangers lead the operation.
thank you.
Rangers should most definitely be deployed in punjab, islamabad and KPK. Punjab is their income resource.
OH !!! There are already 59 comments till now. All favoring Rangers to step in with full power, if PUNJAB has to be cleaned and all terrorist/militant groups be wiped out. The problem is , these groups are sitting right on the lap of Provincial Govt. Only banning these groups and black listing is not enough.A vigilant eye should be kept on them less these groups don't re-emerge with different names. Also, their source of funding should be choked and their mentors should be traced at the same time and dealt with harsh punishment.