Pakistan Rangers Sindh on Monday clarified that they will continue to assist the police and district administration as “backup support” in case of any “extreme emergency.”

However, the Rangers made it clear that its troops were no longer engaged in search, arrest and independent operations after the special policing powers last awarded to the paramilitary force under Section 4(3) (I) of the ATA-1997 in January 2017, ended on April 15.

The spokesperson for the paramilitary force, in a brief statement to the media, stated that Sindh Rangers were present in Karachi under Article 147 of the constitution.

The official, while mentioning a notification issued by the Sindh government on August 1, 2016, said that the paramilitary force could not carry out any operation "independently".

However, according to the code of the provincial government, the force would provide “back-up support” to the police or the district administration when called in case of extreme emergency, operation or need.

Furthermore, providing security to vital installations was also included in notified responsibilities of the paramilitary force.

“This is also being clarified that the powers pertaining to search, arrest and operation granted to the Pakistan Rangers Sindh under Section 4 (3) (i) of ATA (Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997) have been ended on April 15,” concluded the statement issued by the Rangers spokesperson.