HYDERABAD: Sindh Home Minister Suhail Anwar Siyal, who on Wednesday faced a barrage of questions by journalists regarding Rangers’ demand for their own police stations, gave a to-the-point answer that it would be accepted only if the Constitution permitted it.

Mr Siyal, speaking to them after attending the closing ceremony of the Police Sports Festival at Police Ground, said the Sindh government would act in accordance with the Constitution and law as far as the demand was concerned.

The provincial government had submitted its report in response to the “apprehensions” expressed by the Rangers in their report filed in the apex court earlier, he said, referring to the ongoing hearing of the Karachi lawlessness suo motu proceedings.

“We will take a decision that is permitted by law and the Constitution and if the Constitution provides for no such arrangement then this will, of course, not happen,” he repeated this assertion while evading questions as to why the Sindh police and Rangers were not on the same page in the apex court when the provincial police chief had very recently claimed that the “law and order situation in Sindh is close to ideal”.

The home minister also did not give a straightforward reply to the question that whether there was a need for the Rangers to run police stations.

In reply to another question, he said there was always a room for improvement in law and order. He said that situation was much better than what was seen before 2008, when a convoy system had to be introduced to ensure safe travelling on highways across Sindh. “Convoys are no longer seen and commuters travel peacefully now,” he observed.

Mr Siyal said that the ongoing Karachi operation was a joint effort by the police and Rangers. “And why the police and Rangers alone ... there are also the intelligence agencies and army being part of the collective effort to control lawlessness and terrorism,” he said, adding that more control would be seen through the collaborative efforts. “There are no distortions at all,” he insisted apparently rejecting the talk of a conflict over authority between the police and Rangers.

The home minister said that the Sindh police had rendered tremendous sacrifices while the list of those who laid down their lives in the line of duty also included Rangers personnel.

About the allegations recently levelled by former Karachi nazim Mustafa Kamal against Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain and his certain associates, Mr Siyal said the allegations included those relating to [the Indian intelligence agency] RAW and this was for the federal government and not for the provincial government to look into.

Replying to a question about involvement of MQM dissident Anis Kaimkhani in the Baldia factory fire, Mr Siyal said the contents of the relevant joint interrogation report had already been reported by the media. Hyderabad Commissioner Kazi Shahid Pervez, DIG Khadim Rind and other senior officers were also present.

Earlier, addressing the ceremony the home minister said that he was happy to attend the festival after peace was restored to Karachi and other parts of Sindh.

“Political leadership including [PPP chairman] Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, [co-chairman] Asif Ali Zardari and [MNA] Faryal Talpur deserve credit for it,” he said. He said that it was the sacrifices given by the police and Rangers that today such a festival was held. Otherwise, he added, they [police and Rangers personnel] remained busy challenging terrorists on road.

Observing that the police were in high spirits, he said the operation would continue until the last terrorist was alive.

“The people of Sindh and Pakistan will eventually emerge victorious because Zarb-i-Azb has produced positive results.”

Published in Dawn, March 10th, 2016