Rangers in Karachi to Get More Powers, DAWN, 5 January 2010
EXCERPT: "The government has decided to give more powers to Rangers deployed in Karachi under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), allowing the paramilitary force to arrest anyone involved in violence for 90 days, a source in the interior ministry told Dawn on Monday. The decision was taken at a meeting presided over by Interior Minister Rehman Malik. The meeting focussed on target killings in Karachi and it was revealed in the meeting that 256 people had lost their lives because of target killings over the past six months in Karachi alone. They belonged to various political and non-political parties. According to a breakup, 69 victims belonged to MQM, 60 to the MQM Haqiqi, 29 to the PPP, 24 to ANP and 41 to other organisations. The meeting also took note of the inaction of security personnel deployed at the Boultan Market to take action against anti-social elements. The meeting decided to give special powers to Rangers in Karachi to take prompt action, in case of any violence, for safeguarding lives and properties. . . In addition to this, police personnel in civvies would also be deployed, he said, adding that strict action would be taken against miscreants."
Read the full story.
Related articles:
256 fall victim to target killings in Karachi, The News International, 5 January 2010
Security agencies can't handle Karachi-like unrest: Malik, Daily Times, 2 January 2010
Target killing claims 18 lives in Karachi, Geo TV, 4 January 2010
Those behind target killing not to be spared: Malik, Geo TV, 1 January 2010
Related posts:
Govt establishes new anti-terrorism institution, 12 December 2009
UNODC trains Pakistani counter-terrorism officials, 26 November 2009
