close
Friday March 29, 2024

Rangers granted powers in Punjab under Anti-Terrorism Act

By Web Desk
February 22, 2017

ISLAMABAD: Sources disclosed that the government has decided to grant powers to Rangers in Punjab, after a high-level meeting presided by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar took place on Wednesday.

According to details, the meeting was presided over by federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and was attended by National Security Advisor Nasir Janjua and Interior Secretary. Home Secretary Punjab, Chief Secretary Punjab, IG Punjab and other officials were also present.

Apex Committee had recommended granting powers to the paramilitary force in Punjab. Rangers will be granted powers in Punjab under the Anti-Terrorism Act for 60 days.

The decision comes in light of the recent spate of violence across the country, which has claimed more than 100 lives and injured scores of others. On Tuesday, 6 people had died and 20 had been injured when 3 suicide bombers had attempted to blow themselves up outside a local court in Charsadda.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said that wherever terrorists and their facilitators would be, they would be arrested and brought to book. Nisar said that Rangers force would assist the police and security agencies in defeating terrorism in Punjab.

He said that the government was serious in providing all the help it can to every province.