Rangers’ Chief Brings Governor Up to Date about Karachi Operation

On Tuesday, Maj-Gen Bilal Akbar, the Sindh Rangers Director General, called on Sindh Governor Dr. Ishratul Ibad at the Governor’s House for discussing the progress of Karachi operation. The Rangers chief assured the governor of his resolve of continuing the paramilitary force offensive until the provincial capital was free from the last miscreant. He also brought Dr. Ibad up to date about the law and order situation in Karachi. The city was once considered a notorious home for gangsters, but from 2013 onwards, it has seen a huge decline in criminal activities as that’s when the paramilitary force was given extraordinary powers for dealing with the law and order situation.

However, the arrest of Dr. Asim Hussain, the former petroleum minister, by the Rangers had caused a tussle with the provincial government. On several occasions, Chaudhry Nisar and the ruling Pakistan People’s Party had exchanged barbs. The responsibility of the country’s internal security rests on Nisar and he claims that the Pakistan People’s Party is not in favor of a transparent inquiry into the case of Dr. Asim. According to media reports, the national exchequer has suffered from huge losses because of Dr. Asim.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement, a party that enjoys a lot of popularity in the city and rivals PPP government, has also criticized the paramilitary forces. Earlier this year, Rangers had detained an MQM activist Aftab Ahmed who had later died in a hospital. It had been claimed by media reports that he had died due to the torture that had been inflicted on him by the Rangers personnel. Maj-Gen Bilal Akhter, the director general of the Rangers admitted to torturing Aftab Ahmed in Rangers custody during in an interview to media outlets. He also said that they would take strict action against all those who were found responsible for misconduct.