Karachi - Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah yesterday approved a summary for extension in policing powers of Sindh Rangers for 60 days from December 6.
The summary was sent by home ministry to the chief minister which was later approved and sent to the federal government via fax for its implementation.
According to a private TV channel, the extension this time was only for 60 days and not for 120 days.
According to CM House spokesperson, the interior ministry was asked to approve special powers to Rangers against terrorism, sectarian killing, target killing, extortion and kidnapping for ransom.
The spokesman further said that the policing powers would be notified by the provincial government by Monday.
It is pertinent to mention here that the provincial assembly on December 16 approved a resolution ratifying Rangers stay in the province for one more year and restricted its ambit only to action against target killing, extortion, kidnapping for ransom and sectarian killing.
Meanwhile, the provincial government has also appointed a new special prosecutor in Dr Asim’s case despite opposition and a plea from Rangers in Sindh High Court against the likely decision.
Rangers had filed a petition in the Sindh High Court on Saturday against the possible transfer of the special public prosecutor in the case against former federal minister Dr Asim Hussain, who faces the charges of abetting terrorists.
Rangers deputy superintendent Inayatullah Khan Durrani submitted in the petition that the provincial government, with ulterior motives, was trying to influence the investigation and the prosecution of the trial against Dr Hussain.
The petitioner submitted that following the transfer of the investigation officer of the case, the provincial government now wanted to replace special public prosecutor Mushtaq Jehangiri to assist Dr Hussain, who was also a close aide of former president and Pakistan People’s Party Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari.
It is pertinent to mention here that special public prosecutor Mushataq A Jahangiri too had filed a petition in the court accusing the newly-appointed investigation officer of conducting an unfair and partial investigation into the case to benefit Dr Hussain and dropping terrorism charges against him while granting bail to the suspect under 497 (ii) of the CrPC.
Despite holiday on Sunday, the special prosecutor in Dr Asim’s case, Mushataq A Jahangiri, was replaced by Nisar Durrani through a notification issued by law department.
Advocate General Sindh Shahadat Awan, however, expressed his ignorance of the notification and said that there was a holiday on Saturday and Sunday.
On the other hand, Nisar Durrani said he was informed by an official of the law department regarding his appointment as a special prosecutor in the Dr Asim’s case.
“I cannot talk anything about the case as I have not yet studied the case,” he said adding, that he could only speak on the issue after getting thorough information.
CHANDIO SAYS ‘WE ARE
AFRAID OF NOTHING’
Sindh Information Adviser Maula Bakhsh Chandio has said that the Rangers mandate is not to take action against corruption and since the extension in paramilitary force’s powers was a constitutional matter, the provincial government took it to the Sindh Assembly.
In an interview with a local TV news channel, the provincial information adviser said that he had spoken to Sindh Rangers director general and that the latter only expressed reservations on two-three things.
“We are afraid of nothing,” Maula Bakhsh Chandio clarified, adding that the same summary that the provincial government presented before the Sindh Assembly was dispatched to the Federation.
20 TERROR SUSPECTS ARRESTED
Counter-Terrorism Department of Sindh Police claimed to have arrested four suspects linked to different banned outfits while the paramilitary force has also apprehended nearly 20 suspects during targeted raids in various parts of the city.
The four suspects – Shahid alias Zubair, Ali Gul Rehman, Manzur Ahmed Achakzai and Usman Ghani alias Baba were arrested during a targeted raid conducted on a tip-off by CTD near Chamra Chowrangi in Korangi area. Weapons included a hand grenade, a Kalashnikov and three pistols were also claimed to be recovered from their possession.
CTD in-charge SSP Usman Bajwa, addressing a press conference at his office on Sunday, told mediamen that the suspects arrested were affiliated with the banned terror outfits – Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. He claimed that these men were involved in various acts of terrorism in Karachi. The suspects also revealed their involvement in carrying out a bomb blast in 2011 at Nigar Cinema, wine shops in Lea Market and Nayabad, Lyari, bomb blast at a rummy club at Ghas Mandi in Old City area while in 2012, they carried out a targeted attack on a generator mechanic of Shia community at Nagan Chowrangi. The cases against them were registered while further investigation was underway.
On the other hand, Rangers also claimed to have apprehended 20 suspects from the city. Rangers spokesperson said that the suspects were arrested during ongoing targeted raids and actions during last few days in parts of city including Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Surjani, Gulshan-e-Hadeed, Sohrab Goth, Orangi Town, Shershah, Quaidabad, Lyari and Federal B Area. The suspects arrested including the terrorists of banned outfits and militants while weapons were also recovered from their possession.