KARACHI - Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah on Tuesday said that under the 18the amendment, the government of Sindh is bound to seek consensus of Sindh Assembly before allowing Rangers to continue work against terrorist.
Talking to media just after distributing compensation cheques among families of victims of Safoora Goth tragedy, the chief minister said that Rangers was called in by government of Sindh long ago and their stay in the province had been extended but after the 18th amendment, they could not extend on their own and needed approval from the assembly.
Replying to a question, the chief minister said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had taken all political forces into confidence before launching operation against terrorist elements. "It was decided in consensus that the operation would be launched against heinous crimes such as terrorism, target killing, kidnapping for ransom and extortion," he said. The chief minister said that constitutional experts and their legal team had told them that the Sindh Assembly was competent to award another extension to Rangers to continue their operation.
"But, this time it has to be taken to the assembly at least two months before putting it on the agenda of the house," he said and added "the ways and means to give them (Rangers) another extension would be explored but we have to talk to them first," he said. Syed Qaim Ali replying to another question said that services and sacrifices of Pakistan Rangers and Sindh police could not be forgotten.
Qaim Ali Shah said, "The Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif took personal interest in launching strong operation that's why we have received encouraging results, otherwise Rangers was already in the city and all over province."
Replying to another question, he said that Chaurdhry Nisar had telephoned him personally and "I put all my reservations and apprehension before him," he said adding that he was quite sensible and reasonable person that’s why we both were clear and candid in our conversation," he said. The chief minister in a simple ceremony distributed cheques among the heirs of Safora Goth tragedy. The chief minister gave away Rs500,000 compensation to each martyr and Rs200,000 to each injured. There were 45 martyred and 6 injured in the tragedy. The Aga Khan Community leaders welcoming the chief minister thanked him for his personal interest to detect the case within a record few days.
They said that they were also thankful to the chief minister for the 5 kilometer road leading to their area. They also demanded construction of another kilometer road connecting their area with Malir Cantt which the chief minister agreed upon. The chief minister addressing the occasion said that he was in Islamabad when tragedy had taken place. "I cut short my visit and rushed to the spot and shared my sorrows and grief with Aga Khan Community and His Highness," he said.
The chief minister said that he had given the task to the police to detect the case or face consequences on which they not only detected the case but made important arrests for which they had been rewarded.
The chief minister said he was a worker and would always be available for the services of people of Karachi. "I have not brought compensation but it is an aid to the victims' families. Life is precious and it cannot be weighed in by a handful of coins," he said.
The chief minister was accompanied by Minister for Health Jam Mehtab Dahar, Minister for Home Sohail Siyal, Secretary Home Mukhtiar Soomro, IG Sindh Ghulam Hyder Jamali, Rashid Rabbani, Waqar Mehdi and others.