Rangers could lose policing powers in Islamabad

By
Azaz Syed
|
Rangers in action in Islamabad - AFP/File Photo

ISLAMABAD: The Interior Ministry has warned the Punjab Rangers of taking back its policing powers if it fails to explain by Monday a recent controversial raid in the outskirts of Islamabad, sources told Geo.tv.

According to sources, the Rangers carried out a raid on a private housing society in Islamabad on the night of May 13 and arrested several people without informing the district administration.

According to the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 under which Rangers were permitted to operate in Punjab, the paramilitary force is bound to work alongside the police and keep the district administration in the loop regarding its operations. However, no such actions were taken during the raid in question, the sources added.

After two previous notices demanding explanations from the Rangers went un-replied, the interior ministry — with the approval of the minister — has warned the paramilitary force in the latest notice of withdrawing their policing powers in Islamabad if a reply is not received by Monday, May 22, sources informed further.

In February this year, five wings of the Punjab Rangers were granted policing powers in the province for a limited period to be renewed from time-to-time, in a meeting chaired by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.

Also read: Sindh Rangers to get Punjab-like powers

Note: An earlier version of this story misreported that the Interior Ministry's notice warned the paramilitary force of losing policing powers in Punjab. The warning is only for Islamabad. The error is regretted.