Dec 31 , 2015
News
Nisar tasked to sort out Centre-Sindh standoff on Rangers’ policing powers
* Qaim told no compromise will be made on Karachi operation * Rangers will continue to operate in light of Interior Ministry's notificationISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has directed Interior Minister Ch Nisar Ali Khan to visit Sindh to sort out differences between federal government and the provincial government in Sindh on the issue of Rangers’ policing powers, according to Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah.
Talking to reporters after a meeting with the prime minister on Wednesday, the chief minister said the meeting was held in a cordial environment and that all reservations of the provincial government were presented to the premier. He insisted that the conditions placed on Rangers’ powers by the Sindh government were not ‘unreasonable’, adding that the DG Rangers and other officials had been verbally instructed many times before to consult the chief minister or the chief secretary before making political arrests.
Shah said Sindh had been empowered after the 18th Amendment to ratify Rangers’ powers, a right it exercised through the assembly.
He pointed out that Sindh government had called the services of Rangers as per Article 147 of the constitution which allows the paramilitary force to act against terrorism, target killings, kidnapping for ransom and extortion. He said the subject of corruption is a provincial matter which is being dealt with by the provincial anti-corruption establishment, adding the same has been conveyed to the prime minister. Earlier, Nawaz Sharif and Qaim Ali Shah agreed that no compromise will be made over the Rangers-led operation against criminals and terrorists in Karachi, official sources said.
Sources said Nawaz assured Qaim that Sindh government’s reservations over security issues will be addressed.
No official statement regarding the meeting has been released as yet. However, sources said the prime minister rejected two major demands presented by the Sindh chief minister: 1) Rangers authority to arrest any political figure on corruption charges, 2) conduct raid on any Sindh government institution.
He reportedly informed the chief minister that the Rangers will continue its operation in the light of the notification of the Interior Ministry.
The prime minister is said to have listened to the concerns and reservations raised by Qaim Ali Shah and his delegation and promised to address all the concerns with sincerity. He pointed out that the federal government has provided Rs 25 billion to Sindh government so far in terms of the expenditure incurred on Karachi operation.
Both agreed if any issue between the Centre and the Sindh government emerged in future, they would sit together, discuss it and would resolve it through dialogue. Interior Minister Ch Nisar, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Sindh ministers Murad Ali Shah and Sohail Anwar Siyal also attended.
Last week, rejecting the Sindh government’s summary of giving conditional powers to Rangers in Karachi, the federal government had directly provided legal cover to the paramilitary force with full powers under the anti-terrorism laws.
The top PPP leadership has already decided against going to court over the federal government’s notification on Rangers’ powers.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk