TAXILA: The Pakistan Rangers, Sindh, were carrying out the operation against criminals in Karachi in accordance with law and the mandate given to them, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said on Saturday.

The Rangers’ stay in Sindh had been extended and the federal government had empowered them to act in aid of civil authorities under the Anti-terrorism Act, the minister told media after performing the ground-breaking of Wah General Hospital.

Chaudhry Nisar said the London Metropolitan Police had approached the interior ministry for direct access to the prime suspect in the murder case of Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Dr Imran Farooq.

When his attention was drawn to reports of police excesses in Karachi, he said the government would not allow police and other law-enforcement agencies to make arrests while in civvies and without registering a case against the suspects.

Commenting on the report of the poll inquiry commission, he said it was based on facts and proof, and not on stories in media. The highest judicial forum in the country conducted the inquiry and the government shared its report with the nation, he added.

The minister said the leadership of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf should realise that parliament, and not the street, was the right forum to discuss political matters.

In reply to a question about the alleged London plan and support of some sections of the establishment for the PTI, Chaudhry Nisar said that controversies should not be created in the context of the Judicial Commission’s report. “The government looks forward to strengthening democratic institutions for the betterment of people.”

The minister said unity of the nation was imperative to effectively address challenges being faced by the country. All political forces and state institutions should work hand in hand to resolve issues.

Earlier, the interior minister said in a speech at the ground-breaking ceremony of the Wah General Hospital that it would be the biggest and best health facility in the Rawalpindi division.

The 500-bed hospital is estimated to cost Rs6.5 billion.

A high school for boys and a middle school for girls will also be built at a cost of Rs150 million.

Chaudhry Nisar said the Pakistan Ordnance Factories, Wah, had given 96 kanals of land for free to the hospital and 20 kanals for the two schools.

“In the first phase, a 100-bed hospital will be completed in one-and- a-half years while in the second and third phases its capacity will be raised to 500 beds,” the minister said.

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2015

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