Rangers ‘being pressured to leave Karachi’

SECURITY LIKELY TO BE COMPROMISED BY DELAY IN EXTENDING MANDATE, KHAN SAYS

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has stated that the Rangers institution is being ridiculed in Karachi, where he says opponents of peace are pushing for the security force to leave.

Addressing journalists in Islamabad yesterday, Khan said the dilly-dallying tactics being adopted by the Sindh Government over the extension of the Rangers’ mandate in Karachi would likely compromise the sensitive law and order situation there.

The minister said public statements targeting the Rangers were part of efforts to sully their standing in the eyes of the public.

He cautioned that the welldisciplined, patriotic and professional Rangers should not be the objects of ridicule.

“The paramilitary force is present in Karachi under Anti-Terrorist Act of the Federal Government,” he said.

Federal intervention

Khani called on the Sindh government not to stir up controversy around the Rangers.

He also revealed that the federal government would not sit back and watch the security institution come under such attacks. He stressed that Rangers are a federal force operating under the country’s anti-terrorism act.

Khan added that the Rangers did not work for the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz or any other party in Sindh. Instead, they safeguard the interests of the country, he said.

The minister pointed out that despite its reservations, the MQM was interested in the operation to restore peace in Karachi continuing, even though the provincial government is not.

Consultative approach

Referring to the criticism of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) by the provincial government, Khan said the incumbent NAB chairman had been appointed after consultations between the government and the leader of the Opposition.

This is in contrast to the days under the PPP, in which there no such consultations took place.

Khan also pointed out that the FIA has mandate to investigate terrorism and that is why it also investigated Benazir Bhutto’s murder.