PPP fumed at rejection of Sindh summary on Rangers powers

“On Wednesday, however, the Sindh cabinet termed the federal government’s move to extend the Rangers” powers “unconstitutional”.

Members from both parties lodged strong protest and later walked out of the Upper House over rejection of provincial government’s summary on extension of policing powers of Rangers in the province.

The stay of Rangers in Sindh and Karachi with special powers expired on December 5.

He said the interior minister never said that the federal government will give Rs9 billion to the Sindh government.

The second condition was the paramilitary forces will not place a person suspected of financing or facilitating the terrorists under preventive detention without the approval of Sindh chief minister.

Reacting to the decision made by federal government, Qamar Zaman Kaira castigated that the rulers consider themselves to be monarchs.

The provincial administration had not sent a summary to the federal government on Rangers’ powers, but a letter to inform the Centre about the Sindh Assembly’s decision, he added. “The provincial assembly does not reserve the authority to amend the federal laws”, the interior ministry said in a statement.

Senator Farhatullah Babar lashed out at the federation, stating that the federal government had violated the constitution on Rangers’ issue.

However, the resolution has curbed the powers of Rangers as it does not allow the paramilitary force to conduct raids on government offices; it has also stopped them from carrying out interrogation of the government officials.

In addition, it will not assist any other agency in carrying out such actions.

Earlier on Sunday, Chief Minister of Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah has approved an extension in special powers for Sindh Rangers for next two months. The Interior Ministry on Tuesday restored Sindh Rangerss policing powers under the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 without having been influenced by the Sindh Assembly’s resolution or provincial government’s executive order.

It had said that Rangers should take action only in cases of terrorism, targeted killings, extortion, kidnapping for ransom and sectarian killings.