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07-15-2016, 04:02 AM
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Sindh govt-Rangers row deepens
It appeared as if the Sindh government, or at least the minister concerned, has put its weight behind Tariq Sial and Asad Kharal, the man rangers wanted to investigate, as the two have reportedly taken the matter to the court and accused rangers and police of harassment. On the other hand, rangers have also decided to stick to its position and may **w go after the two along with a CIA official of Larkana, Jani Shah. Some reports suggest the government of Sindh, which had opposed expansion of the operation to entire Sindh, has also questioned rangers’ jurisdiction in Larkana. It wanted operation to remain confined to Karachi, against the MQM, Lyari gang war and outlawed groups. It also opposed rangers’ raid on the government ******s and instruct rangers to take prior permission if they wanted to arrest any government employee or official. Rangers, on the other hand, strongly believe that until and unless the operation is expanded to entire Sindh, desired results could **t be produced. The fears are based on certain facts. The past incidents showed that in case of prior permission, the accused often managed to escape, apparently as a result of breaching of confidentiality of the decisions. In Larkana incident, minister's brother, Tariq Sial, is being blamed for facilitating a wanted suspect, Asad Kharal, who is k**wn as "Don of Larkana” in certain circles, especially in the case of 20 most wanted hardened criminals and terrorists including those on whom the government had put head money. In a related and unprecedented development, the judges of Sindh High Court held a meeting on deteriorating law and order situation in Sindh, and discussed the failure of the government to recover Awais Shah, son of the Sindh High Court chief justice. For the past one year, the Sindh government and rangers have a love-hate relationship and, at times, it almost came to the level of breakdown. In the last few meetings of the apex committee, as well as highly confidential meetings at corps headquarters, attended only by the military commanders concerned, reports of the alleged involvement of some officials of the government and PPP leaders were discussed. The government takes credit for the Karachi operation, and also praises rangers when it comes to action against MQM's alleged militants, outlawed groups and Lyari gang, but reacts harshly when someone close to top PPP leadership is arrested. Sources said Rangers strongly believe that in certain matters linked to the reports of Joint Investigation Team (JIT), the government has deliberately adopted delaying tactics, which often led to the escape of some suspects. It also pointed out how the government caused problems in the case against Dr Asim Hussain, Uzair Baloch and how suspects like Manzoor Kaka, Awais Muzaffar Tappi and Sharjeel Memon were allowed to go abroad while they were required for investigations. Once rangers got so frustrated that they submitted a report in the Supreme Court stating that as a result of poor prosecution, many suspects had either been released on bail or acquitted by the court. The paramilitary force even requested the SC to allow rangers own system including its own police station, prosecution and jurisdiction throughout Sindh. It also requested the court that its tenure and powers should be reviewed on yearly basis rather than every three months. Rangers report had also mentioned how highly-politicised police had affected the operation. What happened in Larkana and the manner the police were used to rescue a suspect shed some light on how much the Sindh police were politicised. They showed more loyalty to the minister's brother rather than to the state. The Sindh government has questioned rangers’ jurisdiction. "Rangers are confined to Karachi, and have ** jurisdiction outside the city," said a senior PPP lawmaker from Sindh, on condition of a**nymity. In the past also, it has crossed the red lines, he added in reference to some of the actions it had taken including Dr Asim's arrest and raid on Sindh Building Control Authority. The matter regarding the jurisdiction had come under serious discussion in the apex committee meetings. Rangers say many terrorists had escaped from Karachi and took shelter in interior Sindh. There were also reports that many terrorists of outlawed groups had made ‘sleeper cells’ in different cities of Sindh including Shikarpur, Sukkur, Dadu, Badin, and therefore an operation with all its powers be expanded to the whole Sindh. Rangers also believe that expanding the operation to whole Sindh would dispel the impression and propaganda that the purpose of the operation was merely to target the MQM. Therefore, when this incident took place, DG Rangers Major-General Bilal Akbar was personally an**yed at the manner in which Sindh home minister's brother interfered and rescued the man, required for investigation. He **w wanted that ** action should be taken against him. He had also issued instructions for an action against a CIA Inspector in Larkana, Jani Shah. Sindh Information Minister Moula Bux Chandio and Nisar Khuhro, who also belong to Larkana, tried to underplay the event and termed it a misunderstanding. Who k**ws better than Mr Khuhro about Asad Kharal? Some Larkana residents and PPP local leaders described him as the ‘Don of Larkana’. Information collected about Kharal revealed that while working at a general store since 1980s, he came close to the Sial family after the death of former PML leader, Altaf Hussain Unar, and allegedly played the role of a front man for the family, along with Jani Shah. "We can **w probe all the three: Asad, Tariq Sial and Jani Shah, in the case of 20 most wanted criminals and terrorists," said a senior rangers official. Sindh government-rangers row began when for the first time rangers raised finger at the alleged involvement of Bilawal House in terror financing. The reaction came after the Sindh government did **t took any action on the reports submitted in the apex committee, linked to PPP men’s involvement in Fisheries Cooperative Society. After submission of the report, some suspects escaped abroad, rangers suspected the apex committee report was leaked. Thus, it reacted and made a public statement. Both PPP and the Sindh government reacted sharply and tried to curtail the powers of the rangers. When Dr Asim Hussain was arrested, former president Asif Ali Zardari blamed the prime minister. **ne other than Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, who is also the captain of the operation, publicly condemned rangers’ raid on Sindh Building Control Authority, and said rangers had ** such authority. In this case too, rangers suspected the government allowed Manzoor Kaka, head of the SBCA, wanted in thousands of China-cutting cases, to flee the country. The worst came when the rangers last year lodged a protest with the Sindh chief minister and captain of Karachi operation, that a suspect in the murder of two rangers personnel had been hiding in the CM House. The issue was swept under the carpet and the accused managed to escape. He was the brother of a PPP MPA. **w, something similar has happened in the Bhuttos hometown Larkana. The brother of an important minister created hindrance in the arrest of an accused, which rangers term challenging the ‘writ of law’. It is in the best interest of the state that the operation is expanded to entire Sindh. A joint committee of government and rangers goes through all the JITs, which government is **t ready to sign for some political reasons. The matter of prosecution should be decided once and for all, and a high-powered monitoring committee of independent people, who do **t have any conflict of interest, be formed to look into all grievances. Above all, the concept that ** one is above the law be promoted and established. Today, all influential people are above the law and when such people start protecting criminals and terrorists, complete success of the operation would remain a pipe dream. The writer is the senior columnist and analyst of Geo, The News and Jang أكثر... 
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