The Sindh government on Wednesday gave special powers to Pakistan Rangers allowing the paramilitary force to shoot on sight and carry out house search and arrest suspected persons without warrants. Now, the special powers can be exercised in all parts of the city for a month.
A notification issued by Home Department says: "In continuation of notification of February 2, and in exercise of the powers invested under section 10 of the Pakistan Rangers Ordinance, 1959, conferred upon Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) all such powers as envisaged under section 5 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 in whole of City District Karachi, with immediate effect for a period one month which may be extended."
According to another notification, home department has also withdrawn all permission letters for carrying weapons issued in relaxation of ban under section 144 CrPC with immediate effect and until further orders. Consequently, there will be a complete ban on carrying of all kinds of weapons in Karachi.
The Section 5 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 (use of armed forces and civil armed forces to prevent terrorism) states that any police officer or member of the armed forces, or civil armed forces, who is present or deployed in any area may, after giving sufficient warning, use the necessary force to prevent the commission of terrorist acts or scheduled offences, and, in so doing shall, in the case of an officer of the armed forces or civil armed forces, exercise all the powers of a police officer under the Code, sources said.
The officer of police, armed forces and civil armed forces may after giving prior warning use such force as may be deemed necessary or appropriate, bearing in mind all the facts and circumstances of the situation, against any person who is committing, or in all probability is likely to commit a terrorist act or a scheduled offence, and it shall be lawful for any such officer, or any superior officer, to fire, or order the firing upon any person or persons against whom he is authorised to use force in terms thereof, arrest, without warrant, any person who has committed an act of terrorism or a scheduled offence or against whom a reasonable suspicion exists that he has committed, or is about to commit, any such act or offence; and enter and search without warrant, any premises to make any arrest or to take possession of any property, fire-arm, weapon or article used or likely to be used, in the commission of any terrorist act or scheduled offence.
Further, sources said that initially the Rangers personnel had been given powers for a period of 30 days, on temporary basis, and it would further be extended if the law and order situation was not controlled.
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