Karachi operation to go ahead with full steam

PM tells Sindh CM centre's notification on Rangers' powers to prevail.

By Afzal Khan

Published: Wed 30 Dec 2015, 11:00 PM

Last updated: Thu 31 Dec 2015, 11:32 AM

Islamabad: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah agreed on Wednesday to continue Karachi operation jointly and to amicably resolve all differences between the centre and the provincial government.
The two leaders met here in the morning against the backdrop of ongoing standoff over extension of policing powers of Rangers in Karachi by the Federal government while overriding the restrictions imposed by the provincial government.
Sources in the PM House indicated that the prime minister remained firm on the position taken by the interior ministry but agreed that both sides would keep talking to address the reservations of the Sindh government.
Shah himself confirmed to reporters after the meeting that the prime minister directed Nisar to visit Karachi next week and discuss the issue with all stakeholders. Nisar was present in the meeting along with finance minister Ishaq Dar. Shah was assisted by provincial finance minister Murad Ali and Sindh Home Minister Sohail Anwar Sial.
The chief minister said his government had put restrictions on the sphere of action by the Rangers in keeping with the provisions of the constitution and law which allows the provinces to determine how the paramilitary should operate once it is deployed by the Federal government on its request.
Qaim said, "It is the right of province to call in officials of any institution conditionally or unconditionally under article 147 of the constitution.
He said the interior ministry has notified extension in powers for 60 days as demanded by his government, if the issue is not resolved during this period, the position taken by him would prevail.
Shah said his government has no intention to pursue policy of confrontation with the centre. All it wants is to safeguard provincial autonomy and rights.
Meanwhile, both the PM and the CM agreed that if any other issue crops up between the centre and the Sindh government in the future, they would sit together, discuss it and would resolve it through dialogue.
Sharif pointed out that the federal government has provided Rs25 billion to the Sindh government so far in terms of the expenditure incurred on the Karachi operation.
Further, the prime minister directed the interior minister to coordinate and address the concerns of the Sindh government and informed the chief minister that the Rangers will continue the operation under the notification of interior ministry.
On Tuesday evening, after his arrival in Islamabad, CM Shah held meetings with the Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) senior leaders to devise the strategy for his meeting with the premier.
Last week, rejecting the Sindh government's summary of giving conditional powers to Rangers in Karachi, the federal government had directly provided legal cover to the paramilitary force with full powers under the anti-terrorism laws.
The top PPP leadership has already decided against going to court over the federal government's notification on Rangers' powers. But the party will take up this issue in parliament and all available forums to register their protest.
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