ISLAMABAD: The federal government has approved the deployment of Rangers in Punjab to help police and other law enforcement agencies to control the wave of terrorism by arresting terrorists and their facilitators.
A meeting headed by Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Wednesday approved the deployment of Rangers in Punjab for 60 days.
National Security Advisor Nasir Janjua and Secretary Interior were part of the meeting that approved the decision today. Chief Secretary Punjab, Home Secretary, IG Punjab and other officials were also present.
The Rangers will be handed over powers to facilitate law enforcement agencies in the Punjab in accordance with the Anti Terrorism Act.
Speaking about the government’s decision, the federal minister said: “The government is determined to completely eradicate terrorism.”
The request to deploy rangers was made under Article 147 of the Constitution, which allows the provincial government to entrust its functions to the federation, under Anti-Terrorism Act 1997.
The powers to Rangers will be given under articles 7 and 10 of The Pakistan Rangers Ordinance, 1959.According to Article 7, the paramilitary force “can assist the police in prevention and detection of crime in border area and reinforce the police for maintenance of law and order.”
Moreover, Article 10 allows the government to “confer or impose upon any member of the force powers or duties conferred or imposed on a police officer of any class or grade by any enactment.”
Under their temporary new powers, Rangers will be allowed to carry out operations in case of emergency. The raids will be carried out on the basis of intelligence reports.
The Punjab government finally decided on Sunday last at the Apex Committee meeting to seek the assistance of Rangers in carrying out joint operations against terrorists in the province after a series of back-to-back explosions across the country including one in Lahore on February 13, in which 14 people including policemen were killed.
The decision was taken in a meeting of the province’s apex committee after some sensitive information was shared with the participants. According to sources, the information revealed that it is necessary to carry out an immediate joint operation, particularly in South Punjab.
The committee, in the meeting, also decided to set procedural details for the Rangers.
The apex committee decided that indiscriminate action will be carried out against all banned outfits and their active workers along with terrorists and their abettors. Participants agreed to choke all sources of funds for these banned groups and to provide foolproof security to foreigners and CPEC related projects.
They also agreed to halt the unchecked movement of Afghan migrants and refugees, and to strictly monitor the borders of Punjab.
