Sindh govt faces crucial decision on extension in Rangers stay

KARACHI: The next 15 days will be crucial for deciding course of relationship between the Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) and security establishment.
Observers believe that the decisions of the PPP also strained its relations with the federal government and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). In the next 15 days, the PPP-led Sindh government will have to make decisions on extension in Rangers stay in the province for one more year and legal powers of the paramilitary force to detain suspects for 90 days in their custody.
According to sources in the Sindh Home Department, period of legal powers of Rangers to detain any suspect for 90 days will end on July 8. In this regard, a summary has been sent to Chief Minister Sindh, Qaim Ali Shah, to extend the period for more 90 days but despite the passage of more than one week, the chief minister did not direct the Sindh Home Department for issuing of formal notification in this regard.
On November 10 last year, the Sindh government had allowed Rangers through a notification under the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Act to detain any suspect for 90 days in their custody with the permission of the court, for further interrogations for 120 days, and these powers were extended in March this year for further 120 days.
On the other hand, on July 20, the period of stay of Rangers in the province will expire and the Sindh government has to decide regarding the Rangers presence in the province.
Well-placed sources informed this reporter that the Sindh government is not in any mood to extend the powers of Rangers regarding detention of accused for 90 days and this is why the federal government has issued SRO under the Pakistan Protection Act giving powers of custody of suspects for 90 days to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
On the other hand, the Sindh government’s any decision regarding the issue will also affect its relations with the federal government.It is pertinent to mention here that the federal government has publicly declared Rangers presence in Sindh, especially in Karachi, as symbol of peace and tranquillity.DIG South Dr Jameel warned that no security agency, including the Rangers, have any jurisdiction to launch action against corrupt police officers.