‘PPP leadership has final say over Rangers’ powers’

Nisar Khuhro says whether it’s outgoing CM or new one, extension of paramilitary force’s special policing powers in Karachi will be granted after party leadership’s directives

Karachi 

Pakistan People’s Party leader and provincial parliamentary affairs minister Nisar Ahmed Khuhro said on Tuesday that either the outgoing chief minister or the incoming one would sign the summary for granting an extension in Rangers’ special policing powers in Karachi after receiving directives from the party leadership.

“Certain names including my own have been doing the rounds in media reports as the probable new chief minister of Sindh. We all are bound to obey and accept the decision of the party,” Khuhro told reporters after condoling with opposition leader Khawaja Izhar-ul-Hassan over his father’s death.

He said it was too early to say as to whether or not he would be given the charge of provincial home department in the new provincial cabinet.

“The party will decide that. But who ever becomes the new home minister should ensure restoration of peace in the province and improvement of the law and order situation and shun any kind of support to criminal elements,” he added.

He said all Sindh Assembly members belonging to the PPP were united in electing the new leader of the House.

“A decision will soon be made to convene a session of the Sindh Assembly [for electing the new chief minister] at a meeting chaired by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.”

Later, the minister also expressed his sorrow over the killing of two army men in an attack near the Saddar Parking Plaza earlier in the day.

He appealed to the quarters concerned that the attack should not be linked to the issue of extending Rangers’ special anti-terror policing powers in Karachi.

He noted that the murder of renowned Qawwal Amjad Sabri occurred in Karachi at a time when Rangers had the special policing powers.