The Ministry of Interior on Thursday notified extension in Rangers' special policing powers in Karachi for another three months, with effect from January 16. A senior official of the Ministry of Interior said the Interior Ministry has 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 January 18, 2017, and in continuation of the Ministry's notification number 9/1/95-R (Sindh), dated October 16, 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 January 16, 2017", said the notification extending the force's special policing powers in Karachi.
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, authorising the paramilitary force to prevent the commission of terrorist acts, or scheduled offences in notified area for the punishment of terrorists in accordance with the provision of the ATA 1997. Rangers were called in by the then Pakistan People's Party (PPP) government in 1989 in Karachi to aid the civil administration and the police to maintain law and order.