Extension in special powers of paramilitary Rangers in Sindh is nearing to be over once again in December this year. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, who has been Dubai on call from the party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, is the sole civilian authority to approve or disapprove the extension. A summary on the subject has been sent to the CM for approving an extension of 90 days to the special powers of Rangers.
Though the Sindh government is apparently not happy with actions of Rangers but it is so week to refuse the extension. Therefore, it is likely that the CM would by December 4 or a couple of days earlier approve the summary to validate the Rangers stay in Sindh particularly in Karachi. The Sindh government was in jubilation until the Rangers were chasing the Muttahida Qaumi Movement alone under the umbrella of targeted operation that was for eliminating terrorism, extortion and target killings. Later, the MQM started raising objections on Rangers actions claiming that Rangers were only targeting the MQM.
However, at a later stage, Rangers also started raiding on offices of Sindh government such as the Sindh Building Control Authority, defunct Karachi Development Authority, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and other departments. During raids on these departments, Rangers had nabbed key officials and took plenty of office records with them for onward investigations.
The biggest move till date was the arresting of Sindh higher Education Commission Chairman Dr Asim Hussain, who is a close friend of PPP Co-chairman Asif Ai Zardari. Critics claims that Dr Hussain's arrest was the result of a speech made by Zardari on June 17, 2015 in which he had warned the army of severe reaction if actions against PPP men would not be stopped. Later, Zardari had left for Dubai on June 25, 2015 and is still in Dubai. Sharjeel Inam Memon, who is minister for works and services, is also in Dubai after local media reported that his house was raided and the law enforcers had dug out billions from concealed sections in his residence.
The overall cold war situation had led to a worst stage when the CM said he was not lawfully authorising the extension but the elected provincial assembly would do the task. However, he could not stand to his own words and not only approved the extension but also stated that his government would extend powers to Rangers for one year through the legislation in Sindh assembly.
Sindh government contrary to previous practice of extending Rangers stay in Sindh for 3 months approved 30 day extension on July 8 and the date of previous extension to powers to Rangers was over on August 8, which Sindh government extended for four months. That four month extension is now almost over and needs to be renewed in first week of December, 2015.
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