Daily Times

KARACHI: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday called former law minister Farooq H Naik to Dubai to review options after Rangers’ powers were restored unconditionally.

Zardari will convene a meeting with Naik and others in Dubai to review options that the Sindh government has after federation’s move. The federal government earlier this week had restored Pakistan Rangers’ exclusive powers to operate in Karachi against terrorists, criminals and persons involved in terror sponsorship.

The Sindh government had written a letter to the federation earlier this week stating restoration of paramilitary force’s powers as an attack on Sindh. This was the provincial government’s second letter to the federation in the matter. Zardari had also lashed out at the federation following the federal government’s nod. However, the federation had maintained a solid stance over Sindh’s letter. The government had stated that federation executive committee could order province as per the Constitution of Pakistan. The federation further stated that no province reserves the right to deviate from federation’s instructions. On December 25, the federal government had issued a formal notification to extend Rangers’ policing powers. Zardari’s call for a meeting has come a day after issuance of the notification.

A targeted operation was launched in September 2013, which was led by Pakistan Rangers. The Rangers have curbed crime rate to a significant degree and also netted some ‘big fish’ under corruption charges including former petroleum minister and Dr Asim Hussain. Senior leader and legal counsel of PPP, Farooq H Naik is looking after several important cases against PPP’s leaders including corruption reference against former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.

Meanwhile, the Centre Executive Committee (CEC) meeting of Pakistan People’s Party has been convened today (Sunday) in Larkana. PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will chair the meeting at Naudero. According to sources, new president of the Pakistan People Party will be elected during the meeting. The PPP president post had fallen vacant after the death of Makdoom Amin Faheem. The source said that an important decision regarding the reorganisation of the party will be made during the meeting.