Govt told to file comments on plea seeking more powers for Rangers

The Sindh High Court directed federal and provincial law officers on Monday to file comments on a petition seeking a directive for the federal government to delegate more powers to the paramilitary Rangers to curb terrorism, militancy, corruption for terrorism and corruption from the province.

Moulvi Iqbal Haider submitted in his petition that the Sindh Assembly had adopted a resolution for extending the policing powers of the Rangers to control the law and order situation in the province but curtailed its certain powers at a time when the paramilitary force was performing its duties under the National Action Plan aimed at combating terrorism.

He said the assembly resolved that the Rangers would only have powers to control targeted killings, extortion, kidnappings for ransom and sectarian killings, and any person who was not directly involved in terrorism and was only suspected of aiding and abetting terrorists or by way of terror financing or facilitating terrorists would not be placed under preventive detention under any law without prior written approval of the Sindh government, i.e. the chief minister.

Besides, he said, according to the resolution, the Rangers “shall not raid any office of the Government of Sindh or any other government authority without prior written approval of the chief secretary, Government of Sindh”. 

The petitioner further stated that the impugned resolution amounted to curtailing the powers of the paramilitary force just to protect political and government figures from their alleged involvement in corruption and corrupt practices, and that act was against the spirit of the National Action Plan.

He said the provincial assembly’s resolution for curtailing the certain powers to the Rangers were contrary to a certain article of the constitution and required to be set aside.

He said corruption had become a national security threat akin to economic terrorism and was devouring the state of Pakistan as it had halted the socio-economic development of the state and was undermining the institutions, ethical values, development and prosperity. 

The petitioner mentioned that the Supreme Court had observed in the Karachi lawlessness case that the provincial government failed to perform its duties in accordance with provisions of the constitution and despite such declaration the government was protecting corrupt persons, officials, government functionaries, as several politicians, ministers, bureaucrats were facing cases and inquires. 

He said several sitting ministers and bureaucrats, s well as, PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, were avoiding to come back to the country. He said the government’s act to curtail the Rangers powers was beyond their authority, which required to be set aside.

The court was requested to declare the assembly’s resolution to the extent of curtailing the Rangers power as violative of the constitution and direct the federal government to delegate all powers and authority to the Rangers.

The federal and provincial law officers sought time to file comments on the petition.

A division bench headed by Justice Naimatullah Phulpoto directed the law officers to file the comments by December 2. The court also adjourned the hearing of an identical petition seeking declaration for the enforcement of proclamation under Article 234 of the constitution in the larger interest of the public at large for the protection of the life and liberty of the citizens and to curb corruption and terrorism from the province with the aid of the Rangers.

 

SHC accepts plea  

The Sindh High Court granted an application on Monday for an urgent hearing of a petition seeking medical treatment for Kanwar Khalid Younus, a former MNA and Rabita committee member of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Altaf (MQM-A).

The petitioner, Naz Kanwar Khalid, said Kanwar Khalid Younus, a member of the Rabita committee recently constituted by MQM-A founder Altaf Hussain, was allegedly picked up by personnel of law enforcement agencies from outside Karachi Press Club on October 22.

She said the detainee was facing various ailments and required medical treatment in a hospital.  She sought urgent hearing of the petition. The court accepted the request and fixed November 4 for hearing the plea.