Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan Wednesday criticised the Sindh government for limiting the powers given to the Rangers in the province.

“If the provincial government does not issue a notification for an extension to the Ranger’s powers, the federal government will consider its options under the constitution and law,” the minister said. “The Ranger’s can only fulfil their responsibilities if no delays are made in giving them orders under the Anti-terrorism Act 1997,” the minister said, adding: “The Sindh government’s practice of limiting the Rangers’ powers is against the law.” Nisar said that it was “absurd” that the provincial government had no reservation in using the Rangers personnel as personal guards, but was not prepared to give them powers to protect the people of Karachi.

“Rangers are not a security company to be hired for the personal protection of VIPs,” the interior minister said. The minister said that the provincial government’s demand to give Rangers’ orders akin to those given by the Punjab government was illogical. “The reality is that even in Punjab, the paramilitary force has been given orders under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997 without being limited by the federal or provincial governments,” he said.