The Federal Government and the Government of Sindh continue to exchange blows on the issue of special powers of Rangers. Former President Asif Ali Zardari recently accused the Federal Government of invading the Sindh province against the letter and spirit of the constitution while addressing at the death anniversary of his mother, Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Sunday said that the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) was sabotaging the National Action Plan (NAP) by using it as a garb to target political rivals.
There is not even a shadow of doubt regarding the fact that since the Rangers started operation in Karachi, the situation in the city has improved by many folds. Target killings have virtually ceased, street crimes and extortion has also been curtailed to a great deal. Citizens of Karachi are unanimous in their view that peace has returned to Karachi due to the terrific work done by the law enforcement agencies and Rangers in particular. The Sindh Government’s reservations are primarily related to the arrest of Former Federal Minister and Chairman of the provincial Higher Education Commission (HEC) Dr Asim Hussain who was regarded as a close aide of Asif Ali Zardari. There is widespread perception that the party’s insistence to curb Rangers power is because of the case against Dr Asim, which has weakened the party’s case in the public eye. The Federal and the Sindh Government must realize that instead of blaming each other through statements in the media both sides must sit together and come to an amicable solution.
The war of words between the Federal and Sindh Governments may put the Karachi operation in jeopardy.