Little chance to solve Sindh govt-Rangers row over powers

ISLAMABAD: The sum total of the gross differences between the Sindh government and Rangers that have emerged with a bang once again is that the paramilitary force wants complete exclusion of police and provincial administration from its actions being taken in the ongoing targeted operation.

Deep down, the split is very grave although on the face of it there is a semblance of all is well - the Sindh government and the Rangers are on the same page despite hiccups.

The critical discord surfaced in the Supreme Court where the Sindh government and the paramilitary force took incompatible stands. The Rangers demanded extraordinary powers while the provincial administration turned down the wish list arguing that a parallel system of criminal justice will be created if the force was armed with the authority it has sought.

The totally clashing reports of the Rangers and police filed with the apex court make mockery of the prevailing system, which may, however, be somewhat encouraging for the criminals, who, despite being on the run due to the operation, are waiting for its collapse to re-launch their nefarious activities with full force. The two reports expose the contradictions and the weakening of the present mechanism, and the Supreme Court observed that the Rangers’ findings are a charge-sheet against the Sindh government.

“If facilitators, abettors and financiers of terrorists and heinous activities are not allowed to be apprehended how any action against terrorism can be effective,” Rangers chief Maj-Gen Bilal Akbar questioned in his report, showing his total lack of confidence in the Sindh government’s strategy.

The Rangers, who have done a wonderful job in restoring peace in Karachi in spite of severe hurdles put up by the provincial administration in some cases, wish to free their elaborate actions from the association and involvement of police in every possible way. They want to register the First Information Reports (FIRs), investigate cases, prepare charge-sheets etc. This means the paramilitary force wants to have no truck whatsoever with police.

Certain concerns and reservations pinpointed by the Rangers are no doubt genuine and credible. The force is right when it asserted that the police don’t honestly investigate or pursue the cases in courts due to which the culprits, accused of even heinous crimes and terrorism, go scot-free. What is direly required is to make every effort to improve the police instead of introducing a parallel system.

Depoliticisation of police dismissed by the Rangers is absolutely valid and legitimate and the proposal needs to be accepted without any delay if the Sindh government is serious to decisively wrestle with the crucial law and order problem in Karachi on permanent basis. A lot of concerted efforts would be required to prevail upon the provincial administration to make it agree to this proposal.

The Sindh police have earned notoriety for being highly politicized as the influential political figures have stuffed it with their cronies, who did not enjoy good reputation. The recurrent transfers and postings continue to create problems.

However, it was heartening to hear that the chief secretary saying that the apex committee recently decided to take assistance from the Rangers and the army in making appointments in police and that 8,000 police personnel will be inducted in collaboration with the military with transparency.

If the main demands of the Rangers are accepted, the police will become totally irrelevant and resultantly become demoralized. All said and done, despite shortcomings the Karachi police have improved their working to some extent after consistent pressure has been exerted on the force to deliver. But much still needs to be done.

Another demand the Rangers have brought to the Supreme Court is that their policing powers should be extended on yearly basis instead of just 90 days. This is quite appropriate and plausible because extension for only three months is a small period that always gives rise to unnecessary uncertainty and confusion, which goes to the benefit of the criminals. Every time the period is to be extended the Sindh government creates a scene.

The Sindh chief secretary expressed the view that the Rangers’ demand to set up their own police stations involves constitutional and legal intricacies that require to be addressed with due diligence and care. The proposal almost suggests the creation of a parallel system of criminal justice and hence needs commensurate evaluation and scrutiny, he emphasized.

There are little prospects that the row between the Rangers and Sindh government will be resolved in the near future. The provincial administration wants to maintain its hold and supremacy in the operation specifically to protect its buddies from the paramilitary force. On the other hand, the Rangers wish a totally free hand so that those arrested on serious charges are properly investigated and prosecuted to award them the punishment they deserve. The conviction rate is already dismal, which can be improved through honest investigation and vigorous prosecution.