Govt decides to call out Rangers in Punjab

Paramilitary force to have no policing powers; only to assist provincial police

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leadership agreed to requisition Punjab Rangers in the province but without special powers enshrined in Anti-Terrorism Act 1997.

The decision has been made in a consultative meeting which was chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and attended by Minister for Interior Ch Nisar Ali Khan and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

According to the decision, the Rangers would only support Punjab police against the terrorists, their facilitators and financiers. However, the Rangers would not be granted special policing powers under sections 4,5 of ATA 1997. The Rangers will have no powers to conduct raid on any government building.

On Wednesday, Shahbaz Sharif especially flew from Lahore to Islamabad to seek direction from the prime minister on the issue of requisition of the Rangers in the Punjab. After thorough deliberation, they agreed to call out the Rangers but without special powers of accountability.

The sources told ‘The News’ that Shahbaz Sharif would soon ask the Home Secretary to submit the summary for the purpose, however timing had not yet been decided. The Rangers would assist the Punjab police to carry out operations against dacoits, criminals and terrorists inSouth Punjab.  It is expected that the prime minister would soon hold a meeting with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel sharif and would further discuss this issue.

The Ranger will facilitate the police in operation in kacha areas and the areas located near the border in Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajan Pur and Rahim Yar Khan.