KARACHI: Sindh Rangers spokesman said on Wednesday that the paramilitary force “has every right to adopt legal course against the elements involved in tarnishing its image among masses”.

Taking strong exception to the advertisements published in certain dailies on Tuesday seeking public assistance for recovery of certain allegedly abducted individuals, the spokesman said “it was an attempt to affect peace and normalcy restored in Karachi”.

“There is absolutely no truth in these advertisements and Pakistan Rangers, Sindh, is contemplating to take legal action against those behind the publication,” he said.

It was reiterated that the advertisement was part of a campaign to create misgivings about the performance of Rangers among the residents of Karachi.

“The objective is mainly to affect the Karachi operation,” said the spokesman.

Meanwhile, Sindh Minister for Information Nisar Khuhro clarified the position of his ministry regarding the very advertisement, saying “the information ministry doesn’t make any changes to the content forwarded by relevant departments”.

“We only work in the capacity of a post-man in such instances and it’s the departments which should be careful as to what content they want published,” he said.

He said that an inquiry has been ordered and those responsible of any wrongdoing will punished.

Earlier, according to a report published in Dawn, 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.

“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.