News
Thursday, September 05, 2013
Nawaz orders army-type force for KarachiCabinet okays Rangers operation in Karachi
* Police will assist Rangers in targeted operation
* Four committees set up to monitor operation, suggest amendments in relevant laws for improving prosecution
By Razzak Abro
KARACHI: The federal cabinet on Wednesday gave approval for an operation by Rangers against criminal elements in Karachi.
The operation will be led by the Rangers, while police will assist the paramilitary force. This was decided at a special meeting of the federal cabinet at the Governor’s House under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The cabinet also constituted four different committees for supervising and monitoring the operation and suggesting necessary amendments in relevant laws for improving prosecution and investigation process.
Briefing the media persons about the meeting, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar said that the cabinet has also made some decisions of sensitive nature that could not be disclosed at this stage. He said that intelligence agencies have identified hundreds of persons involved in criminal activities in Karachi. He said that the operation, which is to be headed by Sindh Rangers director general, will take indiscriminate action against criminals without considering their political affiliations.
Nisar said that the decisions have been taken in view of consultations with political parties and other stakeholders and in the light of intelligence reports and briefings. He said that a committee to be headed by Sindh Rangers DG will supervise the operation. High officials of the police and other law enforcement and intelligence agencies will be members of the committee. According to Nisar, he has convened a meeting of this committee in Islamabad on Thursday (today) to discuss the line of action. He said that he will also share details about the government’s policy regarding talks with the Taliban on the same day.
According to him another committee will be headed by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah for monitoring of the operation on a weekly basis. Sindh Rangers DG, Sindh inspector general of police, officials of the federal and provincial intelligence agencies, National Aliens Registration Authority, and National Database Registration Authority will be members of the committee. The third committee will comprise of notables from civil society, including the media persons. It will see into complaints of political parties regarding action against their workers, the interior minister said.
Nisar said that the fourth committee will comprise of legal experts who will review criminal laws and suggest amendments to improve prosecution and investigation system. Federal Minister Zahid Hamid will head the committee, while Sindh prosecutor general, attorney general of Pakistan, and MQM’s Senator Barrister Farogh-e-Naseem will be members of the committee.
The interior minister denied media reports about change of Sindh IGP and chief secretary before the launch of the operation. He said that it was the provincial government’s domain and also dispelled the impression that the federal government was going to violate provincial autonomy.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz said the idea of handing over Karachi to army was premature. He hinted at raising a special force to tackle crime and terrorism in Karachi. He said that the new force would be a civilian entity with recruitment purely on merit. It would be trained on the pattern of army. Such a force can be raised in six month to one year’s time, he added.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk