TAXILA: Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Saturday expressed the hope that the matter of extension in the powers of Rangers would be resolved in a day and two.
The new Sindh chief minister, he said, would help resolve the issue. It was a matter of concern that the issue of extension in the powers of Rangers had been made controversial, he added.
Talking to mediamen here, Chaudhry Nisar said,”We are making efforts for maintaining peace in Karachi in consultation with the Sindh government.”
He said the job of Rangers, which worked under the Interior Ministry, was to maintain security. The force, he added, had complete support of the federal government.
“It cannot happen that we do not give powers to Rangers and expect them to perform.”
He recalled that the law and order situation was worse in Karachi in 2011 so Rangers were called in to control the situation.
In two and a half years, Rangers had sacrificed their lives to keep peace and inprove situation in Karachi, he added.
Extension in the powers of Rangers would further improve the situation in the provincial capital, he observed.
He said the operation in Karachi was started in consultation with the provincial government and on the instructions of the Supreme Court.
He mentioned articles 147, 148 and 149 of the Constitution which make it obligatory on the federation to play its role in maintaining peace in provinces.
He said, “I am hopeful that hurdles will be removed and things will move forward.”
To a question about visa agreement with Kuwait, he said “It can’t happen that the other side does not implement the visa agreement while we continue doing it.”
He said Pakistan wanted peace and good relations with its neighbours, however, it would treat others in the same way it was being treated.
He said the visa agreement with Kuwait was suspended as Pakistan continued to facilitate Kuwaiti officials while its own officials were facing difficulties despite the bilateral agreement.
The system of visa issuance would be improved further, he added.
Nisar said for the first time in the history of Pakistan, foreign airlines were fined for bringing passengers into the country without documents.
To a query, he said the meeting of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) interior ministers in coming days in Pakistan, was multilateral in nature.
