The special policing powers granted to Pakistan Rangers, Sindh, by the provincial government under Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997 to carry out raids and arrest suspects ended on Monday.

The government had extended the Rangers' policing powers on October 18, 2016, for 90 days thus entitling them to carry out raids, snap checking and arresting the people in the provincial capital only.

Sindh government, however, had not issued any official statement in connection with extension of the powers by the end of the day.

Earlier in the evening, following a cabinet meeting, Adviser to Sindh Chief Minister on Information Moula Bux Chandio told reporters that no discussion was done in the meeting regarding the extension in powers of Rangers in Karachi.

"We had many issues on our agenda in the cabinet meeting but due to the burning issue of census, all others were deferred," he said.

PPP-led Sindh government has repeatedly announced that the extension of Rangers powers was subject to the approval from the provincial cabinet.

Sources in Sindh Home Department told Dawn that policing powers of the paramilitary force ended on Sunday.

The official sources revealed that a summary to this effect for granting extension of powers to the paramilitary force was moved to the Sindh chief minister nearly a month ago but he has not approved the summery as yet.

The sources told Dawn that the provincial government had “some reservations” over the Rangers’s recent action particularly raids on offices of a businessman in limits of Kharadar and Saddar police station.

The paramilitary force had also detained some persons from there, who were released later on.

The Rangers official had also lodged FIR against the businessman who was widely believed to be very close to the former president of Pakistan under Anti-Terrorism Act.

Sources added that the provincial government wanted to get “some assurances” from the Rangers to avoid such actions in future.