Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Opposition Leader Syed Khurshid Shah expressed his dismay over extension of power of Rangers in Sindh under the Anti-Terrorism Act. He said that such a unilateral decision without consulting the Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Qaim Ali Shah would not be in favour of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N).

He lashed out at the Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar for not making any contact with Qaim Ali Shah to inform him about the development, seek his opinion or hold discussion prior to announcing the extension in Rangers power in the province. He also warned the federal government about the dire consequences of such decisions.

Meanwhile, Sindh Finance Minister Murad Ali Shah said that the federal government had taken an ‘un-constitutional’ step and rejected Chaudhry Nisar’s earlier claim of providing Rs nine billion for the Rangers expenses in Sindh. Senior Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Khursheed Shah also objected upon the move questioning Nisar’s conduct of not taking the Sindh Chief Minister into confidence. Advisor to Sindh CM on Information, Maula Bux Chandio said, “We have full confidence in Rangers, our objection is upon the federation.”

In another occasion, PPP MPAs Ghulam Qadir Chandio, Dr Bahadur Khan Daheri and Shamim Mumtaz expressed grave concerns over the non-provision of justice to the families of those killed and injured in the Model Town attack in Lahore. A joint statement issued from the Sindh PPP media cell stated that the Model Town carnage was a black spot on the Punjab government but Punjab chief minister had crossed all limits for saving former home minister Rana Sanaullah from being held for the accountability.

They said the lawlessness in Punjab is graver than any other province that calls for deployment of Rangers with complete powers.

They demanded that the Model town carnage case should be tried in military courts so that the affectees could get justice.

PPP legislators said that the federal and Punjab governments are the two sides of same coin hence the people and political workers are always authoritative rule of Punjab chief minister.