Resolution curbing Rangers’ powers angers opposition

Opposition lawmakers shout slogans, tear copies of resolution and stage walkout

Karachi

Sparks were expected to fly in the Sindh Assembly proceedings on Wednesday with the presenting of the resolution on extending the term of Rangers special policing powers and so they did as opposition parties shouting and protesting and later staging a walkout over curbing the paramilitary force’s authority.

The assembly sitting, which was scheduled to commence at 3pm, started over one and half hour late with speaker Aga Siraj Durrani in the chair.

The session usually starts in the morning, but its timing was changed so that the Sindh chief minister, who was in Peshawar to attend an event held in connection with last year’s Army Public School attack, could attend it.

The passage of the resolution on the Rangers’ issue that curbed the paramilitary force’s powers attracted the ire of the opposition parties including the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, which described the move as illegal and unconstitutional.

The speaker, suspending all rules of business, took up the issue of the resolution which was the 11th item on the agenda and asked the home minister to table it.

As soon as the home minister started reading the resolution, the opposition lawmakers started shouting, tore its copies and staged a walkout.

Earlier, the session started with prayers for the children and teachers killed in the Army Public School (APS) Peshawar attack on December 16 last year.

MQM’s Syed Sardar Ahmed raised the objection that
before the start of the assembly proceedings, the lawmakers of the ruling Pakistan People’s Party had held a candlelight vigil for the APS victims but had not asked the opposition members to participate in it.

The speaker replied that another candlelight vigil would be held after the adjournment of the session and every member should bring their own candle.

The speaker’s response infuriated the Ahmed, who said described the former’s response was tantamount to ridiculing the APS martyrs.

‘Protecting the corrupt’

Later while talking to reporters after the session was abruptly adjourned following the opposition parties’ protest, leaders of the MQM, the
PML-F, the PTI, and the PML-N said they rejected the resolution as the ruling party had passed it to protect its corrupt leaders.

They also complained that the PPP lawmakers had passed the resolution in haste.

Ahmed said the government ratified the resolution without issuing a notification under Article 147. Previously, he added, the government had notified and granted all powers to Rangers. “The State has illegally ratified the resolution.”

PTI MPA Khurrum Sherzaman said the resolution curbing Rangers’ powers would adversely affect the crackdown against terrorists and other criminals in Karachi.

Sheharyar Mehar of the PML F said the manner in which the resolution was passed was an insult to the provincial legislature, a democratic institution.

“The resolution was passed in a haste only to support terrorists and we will not be a part of this system,” he added.

Former chief minister Dr Ghulam Arbab Rahim said the provincial government had made a mockery of fight against terrorism and corruption, especially on the occasion of the first anniversary of the APS attack.

“The PPP has adopted this resolution to hide its corruption but we won’t allow it to do so,” he added.

Former chief minister Liaquat Jatoi said the resolution was a conspiracy against the country and an act of treason.

“Rangers had neither violated any law, nor overstepped their jurisdiction,” he added.

“It is part of the National Action Plan that any criminal should be nabbed and taken to task.”

Jatoi said by curbing Rangers’ powers, the ruling party was protecting its corrupt members and allies including Dr Asim Hussain, Mustafa Memon, Anwar Majeed, and Sharjeel Inam.

MQM’s Khawaja Izhar-u-Hassan, the opposition leader in the assembly, said the abrupt passage of the resolution had exposed the ill-intention of the government which was patronising terrorists and land grabbers.

“This resolution has given protection to the PPP government and is aimed at targeting the opposition,” he added.

Hassan said the MQM was the only party which had supported action against terrorists but had itself become a victim of the crackdown, but when the guns turned towards the PPP, it curtailed Rangers’ powers.”

The MQM leader said the paramilitary force and other law-enforcement agencies should review the resolution.