Extension in Rangers’ powers issue not moving towards solution

KARACHI: Presenting his analysis in the Geo News programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath’ on Thursday, host Shahzeb Khanzada said the matter of extension in the powers to Rangers did not appear moving towards an ultimate solution.
The extension given for just one month, instead of four, showed that there appeared no situation of mutual cooperation between the provincial government and Rangers. It has been decided that further extension in Rangers powers would be given on the condition of its approval by the Sindh Assembly under Article 147. The Sindh government had always given such approval through a notification. There is a question why the Article 147 was never considered earlier but is being taken care of at present.
Shahzeb Khanzada said there is a general impression that morale of the Rangers would fall after the Sindh government issues the notification. It is now clear that the PPP and the MQM would not support giving extension to the powers of Rangers. In this situation it is to be seen to which extent the morale of the Rangers is affected.
Shahzeb Khanzada observed that the notification would add to differences between the security establishment and the PPP. Normally the PPP says there is nothing sour in the PPP and Rangers relations. But the differences are clearly exposed. These differences, it is feared, may not develop into major differences between Rangers and the PPP.
Shahzeb Khanzada said there are talks about imposition of governor’s rule in Sindh which appears impossible due to possible strong.Senior politician Mushahid Husain Sayed, while talking to Shahzeb Khanzada said the meeting of the prime ministers of Pakistan and India is a positive development. It would be a big development if it is decided in the Nawaz-Modi meeting to restore the Pak-India dialogue.
Sayed observed that Narendra Modi, after failing in all his anti-Pakistan policies, has taken a U-turn. Modi will have to step back after accepting his failures. It is the success of Pakistan’s stand that India sought holding of a meeting and Nawaz Sharif will meet Modi with diplomatic strength, Mushahid observed.
Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar said the matter of tax on bank transaction has been settled with the traders. He said the bank transaction tax is for those people who do not file tax returns and it has been reduced to 0.3 percent. Understanding has also been developed on other issues. “We do not intend to force the people into the tax net,” he said.
Chief of Ehtesab Commission Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Lt Gen (R) Hamid Khan said that the Ehtesab Commission not the NAB had arrested KP Minister Zialluah Afridi. He said Afridi has abused his powers, as being Minister for Mining he banned mining but did not stop illegal mining although it was in his knowledge. It appears that he had collusion with the illegal miners, of which some evidence had also been found. Hamid Khan said only one mine – the Mamakhel Mine – caused a loss of Rs420 million to the government.