No plan for Rangers operation in Punjab
There is no need for assistance by Rangers in Punjab at the moment: Rana Sanaullah
Dunya News Report (Jibran Dost)
LAHORE: Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah while talking to the media on Friday expressed that there is no chance of an Army or Rangers led operation against militants in Punjab.
He also added that the law enforcement agencies under provincial government are well prepared and well trained to deal with terrorism. He further stated that there is a certain regulation under which provincial government could ask for help from the army or Rangers.
Punjab had received assistance from the army and Rangers in times of local body elections and Muharram. However there is no need for such assistance by Rangers in Punjab at the moment, Rana Sanaullah expressed.
While talking to the media in Punjab Assembly, Rana Sanaullah stated “The (operation) issue is being confused as so far there is no plan to use the Ranger or the army in tribal areas of Punjab.”
At the same time, the military establishment thinks that the Punjab police do not have the required equipment or the training to fight terrorists. Therefore, the army leadership recommended that the Rangers should be given the responsibility in Punjab to track and eliminate terrorist networks.
Initially, the idea of deploying Rangers in Punjab was discussed during the provincial apex committee meeting and was sent to the Prime Minister’s office for further consideration. The meeting was also attended by the Chief Minister of Punjab Shahbaz Sharif and the Lahore corps commander.
On the other hand, the army leadership believes that an operation in Punjab lead by the Rangers would provide a logical conclusion to the National Action Plan in order to eradicate terrorist networks from Pakistan.
The operation in Karachi lead by the Rangers has been facing opposition from the major political parties of Sindh, including the ruling party. This resistance was due to the multiple raids that were conducted at nine zero, the political centre of Mutahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the arrest of numerous people from the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). However, the Prime Minister has been quite clear on the status of the Karachi operation and has ensured the wipeout of terrorists at all costs.
PPP considers the operation as a tool for ‘political victimization’. According to the PPP Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, the operation is an ‘invasion’ and it is hurting the sovereignty of the provincial government. The co-chairman believes that the Rangers should operate under the powers of the provincial government. He also added that Rangers have been given power that goes beyond the Chief Minister of Sindh which is inappropriate and unconstitutional.
Meanwhile, in the aftermath of the terrorist attack on Bacha Khan University, the Sindh Assembly has demanded the nationwide implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) to ensure the security of every citizen across Pakistan.
The current dispute between the Sindh government under the Pakistan People’s Party and the federal government under Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz hovers around the same issue. PPP believes that the Rangers should work under the CM under all circumstances. The federal government is of the belief that the Rangers are operating under the National Action Plan which was accepted by all the parties including the PPP.