ISLAMABAD (Staff Report) – Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan will reach Karachi next week to chair a top level meeting of civil and military officials to disperse tense situation surfaced by federal government’s decision to extend special powers of Rangers in the port city.
The decision of Nisar’s Karachi visit was taken in a meeting of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah on Wednesday where the minister himself was also present, sources told Daily Pakistan Global.
Following the high level meeting Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan will address a press conference as well in which he will inform the newsmen about decisions made about Karachi operation.
Sources said that Wednesday’s meeting between Nawaz Sharif and Qaim Ali Shah was encouraging but no significant development took place in duo meeting.
Sindh Chief Minister called the centre’s notification to extend special powers to Rangers an interference in his government’s affairs however the premier told him the step was taken for Karachi’s good. Nawaz Sharif however assured that all of the reservations of Sindh government will listened.
The next week’s meeting of Nisar Ali Khan is also part of centre’s attempt to satisfy the Sindh administration, source privy to inside information added.
Talking to newsmen after meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Qaim Ali Shah said that Karachi operation was started with the consensus of all political parties and other stakeholders. The improving law and order situation in Karchi was result of joint efforts of law enforcement agencies and government, he added.
On the occasion he went on to say that it was the right of provincial government and Sindh Assembly to add several conditions on Rangers’ special powers.
To a question he said that we have asked the federal government to disperse the situation as soon as possible at which Nawaz Sharif directed Nisar Ali Khan to visit Karachi in near future.
The conditions imposed by Sindh Assembly were not related to Rangers’ action against terrorists, extortionists and criminals but it only asked the paramilitary force to inform chief secretary before arresting any government top official or politician, he added.
DG Sindh Rangers was also taken into confidence before introduction of these conditions but still federal government overruled the notification of Sindh government, he regretted.
