SC directs removal of Rangers’ reservations

Orders federal, provincial governments and stakeholders to look into Rangers’ recommendations for improving Karachi operation; chief secretary apprises court of hurdles in way of steps suggested by Rangers

KARACHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the federal and provincial governments and stakeholders to remove the Rangers’ reservations and look into their recommendations for improving Karachi’s targeted operation so that a proper solution can be found in the larger interest of the city.

Hearing the Karachi law and order suo moto proceedings, the Supreme Court’s five-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, expressed its dissatisfaction over the police report and inquired from the IG Sindh why the terrorists involved in target killings had not been arrested and charge-sheeted.

In his reply on the Rangers’ application for a yearly extension in the Rangers power under the Anti-Terrorism Act, the Chief Secretary, Siddique Memon, submitted in his comments that the Anti-Terrorism Act does not envisage any provision to the timeframe of continuing to solicit assistance from the Pakistan Rangers. He submitted that extensions are regularly granted, and there appear to be no issues or snags, adding that the government of Sindh is of the view that extensions of the specific period are appropriate, and the period of 90 days was fixed after consultation.

On the Rangers’ request for setting up police stations, he submitted that the proposal from the Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) involves constitutional and legal intricacies that need to be addressed with due diligence and care. “The proposal almost suggests the creation of a parallel system of criminal justice and hence requires commensurate evaluation and scrutiny,” he submitted.

With regard to the grievances of the Rangers on the depoliticising of the police, he submitted that all possible things are being done and shall continue to be done to allow police officers to work independently.

He said that as for the appointments, the apex committee in two different meetings had decided to take assistance from the Pakistan Rangers and the army in making appointments. He submitted that at a meeting held on December 2, 2015, it was decided that the induction of 8,000 police personnel shall be done in collaboration with the Pakistan Army, adding that it can be seen that the element of transparency was being ensured in the process of recruitment even at the lowest entry points while as for the ranks of ASI and above, recruitment was being done through the Sindh Public Service Commission.

The chief secretary submitted that it was the prime responsibility of the provincialresponsibility of the provincial government to maintain the law and order situation, and the decision regarding eliminating terrorism was jointly taken with the prime minister who has been appreciating the efforts of the Sindh government, the police and the Rangers. 

The chief secretary submitted that the current initiative would eliminate terrorism forever and bring the law and order situation under control.  On the transfers of home secretaries, he submitted that Abdul Kabir Kazi was not transferred but he was dismissed from service as a result of disciplinary proceedings. Another incumbent, Mohammad Waseem, was transferred to the planning and development department due to promotion of the then incumbent, Aijaz Ali Khan, in Grade 22 while as for two other incumbents there were some administrative exigencies.

Additional IG operation Syed Ghyasuddin Rashidi submitted that transfers and postings of officers are minutely monitored on the basis of their performance and the capacity of officers to tackle the crime situation in the area. 

The IG of Sindh informed the court that 159 targeted killing incidents have been reported in 2015 in which 53 accused were arrested and 22 cases were charge sheeted. He said that 15 accused were killed in different police encounters. He submitted that 57 cases were being investigated while four cases were disposed of in C-class.

The court took notice of non-arrest of culprits in targeted killing cases and inquired from the IG what efforts have been made to arrest the culprits involved in crimes.  The IG of Sindh expressed his reservations over court’s remarks against him. 

The court directed him to file an application regarding his reservations so that the matter could be taken up in the next hearing.  The court also inquired why there were frequent transfers of police officers including SHOs in the city as it would disturb the performance of the officers. The court was informed that cases have been registered against the police personnel for their involvement in short-term kidnappings.

The court also inquired from the Director Parole of the Home  Department how life imprisonment convicts whose sentences were to expire in 2025 and 2027 were released by the home department on parole and under what mandate of the law.

The court also expressed its dissatisfaction over the computerization of land record which was not verified by the previous 1985 record.  The court asked why the matter should not be sent to the National Accountability Bureau to examine the irregularities as despite the fact that the matter was outsourced by the private companies no proper computerization of land record could be made. 

The court directed the senior member of the board of revenue to submit a detailed response with regard to computerization of land record with authentic land documents. The proceedings will resume on March 10.