LAHORE: While endorsing the rulers’ decision to seek Rangers’ help in countering terrorism in the province, opposition parties in Punjab have asked the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government to give Rangers powers without any limitation and interference in order to make the drive effective. Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid leader and former deputy premier Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, while addressing a press conference at his residence on Monday, said that the government’s decision was good if it was serious and sincere in carrying out indiscriminate operation across the board and in all districts of the province. Elahi said that the provincial government should start the operation against terrorists and their facilitators within its own ranks in Punjab, and it must not be limited to four or five districts, as such a move would allow terrorists and their facilitators to go underground in other districts. He also endorsed the statement of army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa for supporting the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in the country. Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Punjab leader and former provincial head Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo also supported the government’s decision and demanded that the PML-N must give unlimited powers to Rangers if it wanted success in the operation against terrorists, just like in Karachi. Former Punjab governor and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar, while talking to the media and party workers during the inauguration of the party’s office in Lahore Cantonment, said that Rangers must be given powers without any limitation and interference from the power corridors. He said that the only way Pakistanis could get rid of terrorism was by rooting out corruption and poverty and educating the population. He said that all institutions of the country needed to be de-politicised. He said that his party just reflected national desires and there would be no compromise over principles, especially on the issue of anti-terrorism. He said that political parties and people had been demanding Rangers operation in Punjab since long, but it would be beneficial only if the force was given unlimited powers. He further stated that police and other law enforcement agencies had not been working independently, as obstacles were being placed in their way, which must be removed for the smooth functioning of institutions.