The government has decided immediate formation of a monitoring committee to oversee the Rangers’ operation against militants and outlaws in Karachi for reconciliation with Muttahida Qaumi Movement, sources in the government confirmed to The Nation. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar met Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman at his residence and discussed with him various options to resolve the political crisis created by the MQM resignations. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, a couple of days back during his meeting with parliamentary parties heads, assigned the task of resolving the MQM resignations issue to JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman who is also a coalition partner of the PML-N government at the Centre. Sources in the ruling PML-N said Premier Nawaz was ready to announce immediate constitution of a monitoring committee to watch the ongoing Rangers’ operation in Karachi as promised by him at the time of launching the operation. Interestingly, the provincial administration seemed to baulk at the idea of setting up a monitoring committee to oversee the operation even though the prime minister said complaints regarding the process — specifically those of the MQM — would be addressed. Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah said that in his capacity as “captain” of the operation, he did not feel the need for such a committee.This is a rather strange position to take. Firstly, while the presence of militants within the MQM is not exactly hidden, it is also true that law enforcers have been accused — at times even by independent observers — of coming down extra hard on the party. Some of the Muttahida’s more serious allegations include those of extrajudicial killing of its supporters. Hence, there would be no harm in setting up an independent monitoring committee to look into possible abuses of authority by law enforcers. econdly, the Sindh chief minister’s resistance to setting up an oversight committee is odd because he himself has accused the Rangers — who lead the Karachi operation — as well as the FIA and NAB, of overstepping their limits. In fact, a few months ago when the LEAs had picked up officials believed to have links to the PPP, Mr Shah had written to the Rangers accusing them of “acting beyond their mandate”. The Sindh government must realise that if the LEAs are given a carte blanche — without legally defined limits on their actions — in Karachi, in future they can replicate these methods in other parts of the province. Without doubt the operation should continue against militants and criminals of all stripes regardless of their political and other affiliation. But it should be even-handed and allegations of abuse must be investigated.
pk.shafaqna.com
