Comments sought on petition seeking more powers for Rangers

Karachi

The Sindh High Court on Friday directed the federal and provincial law officers and others to file comments on a petition seeking direction for the federal government to delegate “all powers and authority to Sindh Rangers” to curb terrorism, militancy, facilitation, and corruption in the province.

Moulvi Iqbal Haider submitted in the petition that the Sindh Assembly had adopted resolution in the assembly about the extension of the powers of the Sindh Rangers, but the resolution actually had curtailed Ranger’s power to control the law and order situation. 

He said the paramilitary force, on the other hand, was performing its duties under the law and the National Action Plan aimed to curb terrorism.

He submitted that the Sindh assembly resolved that the Rangers would only have powers with respect to targeted killing, extortion, kidnapping for ransom and sectarian killing and any person who is not directly involved in terrorism and is only suspected of aiding and abetting terrorists or by way of terror financing or facilitating terrorists shall not be placed under preventive detention under any law without prior written approval of the Government of Sindh and the Sindh chief minister.  He added that according to the resolution, the Pakistan Rangers Sindh had been barred from raiding any office of the Sindh government or any other government authority without prior written approval of the chief secretary.

He said the resolution was amount to curtail the powers of the Rangers in order to protect the political and government figures from their alleged involvement in corruption and corrupt practices and the resolution was against the spirit of the National Action Plan aimed to curb terrorism and corruption in society.  The petitioner submitted that the provincial assembly’s resolution regarding curtailing the certain powers to Rangers was contrary to articles of the Constitution, which is required to be set aside.

He said that the recent statement of the Sindh chief minister about limiting the Ranger’s powers to Karachi was discriminatory and it would create hatred among the different communities living in the province.

He mentioned that the Supreme Court of Pakistan in its famous “Karachi lawlessness case” had stated that the provincial government had failed to perform its duties in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and despite such declaration, the provincial government was protecting their corrupt persons, officials, government functionaries as several politicians, ministers, bureaucrats were facing cases and inquires with regard to corruption and corrupt practices.

He said that the provincial government’s act to curtail the Rangers power was beyond their authority which required to be set aside.  The petitioner also submitted that another petition with regard to declaration for enforcement of proclamation under Article 234 of the Constitution in larger interest of the public should be tagged with the instant petition. 

A division bench, headed by Justice Mohammad Iqbal Kalhoro, directed the law officers and other respondents to file comments on the petitions and adjourned the hearing till August 9.