For two months: Punjab calls Rangers for limited action

Force will carry out IBOs against terrorists, facilitators in tandem with CTD, says Rana Sanaullah


Our Correspondent September 10, 2016
Sanaullah said there was always a threat as Punjab also shared borders with tribal areas where an operation against militants was underway. PHOTO: INP

LAHORE: The Punjab government has called the paramilitary Rangers for operation against terrorist groups and proscribed organisations in ‘specific areas’ in view of terror alerts.

Speaking at Express News programme ‘G for Gharidah’, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said Punjab government had decided to request the Rangers for specifically assisting the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD).

He, however, clarified that the paramilitary force is requisitioned for ‘specific areas’ and these specific areas will be decided during the apex committee meeting.  “These powers will be limited to conducting raids along with the CTD like it has been done before but this time Rangers will have a legal cover.

He said Rangers will have the authority to conduct an operation at any place where there is a terrorist activity or threat and can even make arrests along with the CTD.

Sanaullah said there was always a threat as Punjab also shared borders with tribal areas where an operation against militants was underway. “There can be a big terrorist attack anywhere during the first week of September and these alerts have kept on repeating,” he said.

According to BBC Urdu, a requisition sent to Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for approval says Rangers will be deployed in specific areas as highlighted by the provincial apex committee to carry out intelligence-based operations against terrorist, banned organisations and their facilitators in tandem with the CTD.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 10th, 2016.

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