FAZAL SHER

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Interior on Monday notified extension in Rangers' special policing powers in Karachi for another three months, with effect from October 18.

A senior official of the Ministry of Interior said the Interior Ministry notified extension in Rangers' special policing powers for another 90 days in Karachi on the request of the Sindh government.

"Pursuant to the request made by the Home department, the government of Sindh, dated October 15, 2016 and in continuation of the Ministry's notification no. 9/1/95-R (Sindh) dated August 3,2016 the powers conferred upon Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) in Karachi division under clause (1) of sub-section-3 of section-4 of Anti-Terrorism Act (XXVII of 1997) are extended for another period of 90 days with effect from October 18.2016", said the notification extending the force's special policing powers in Karachi.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Interior, this time the matter of extension of Rangers was decided amicably with the mutual coordination.

Previously, the Ministry of Interior on August 3 issued two notifications in connection with extension of Rangers' special policing powers in Karachi for three months and their stay in Sindh for one year on the request of the Sindh government.

The deployment of Pakistan Rangers in Sindh and Karachi is requisitioned under Article 147 of the Constitution and Clause 1 of Sub-section 3 of Section 4 of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997, authorizing the Paramilitary Force to prevent the Commission of Terrorist Acts, or scheduled offences in notified area for the punishment of terrorist in accordance with the provision of the ATA 1997. Rangers were called in by the then Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government in 1989 in Karachi to aid the civil administration and the police to maintain law and order.