KARACHI – Chief Minister of Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah approved the summary extending Rangers’ special powers in Karachi for 90 days, on Thursday.
The special powers will grant Rangers special policing powers in the metropolis. The summary to extend the powers of the paramilitary force had been sent to Syed Murad Ali Shah by the home minister and the chief minister signed the summary today (Thursday).
The special powers expired on January 15 after an extension of 90 days on October 17, 2016. A Rangers operation in the city was launched in September 2013.
In November 2014, the Rangers were granted powers till July 2015, but in July the powers were extended for a 30-day period, while the jurisdiction was restricted only to Karachi. In August the powers were again extended for a period of four months.
Under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997, Rangers have been granted special powers to raid and detain suspects.
The issue of extending Rangers’ powers has been a bone of contention between interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Sindh government.
According to media reports, Murad Ali Shah was annoyed at raids on offices of Anwar Majeed, a close associate of former President Asif Ali Zardari, on December 30 amid Zardari’s return back home after 18 months self-exile.
