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Apex committee extends Rangers' mandate in Sindh

Islamabad - The Sindh Apex Committee meeting on Sunday decided to extend mandate and powers of the paramilitary Rangers in the province and speed up an across-the-board operation against all banned outfits.
The Apex Committee, which met here with Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah in the chair, resolved that the Sindh Rangers along with the requisite lawful powers would continue their operation against terrorists while there would be implementation, in letter and spirit, of all the points of the National Action Plan (NAP) against terrorism across the province.
The committee bypassed the objections raised by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) against the Rangers with the party chief levelling serious charges against the chief of para-military force Maj-Gen. Bilal Akbar accusing him and some of top officers of targeting the party and maligning it of target killings and extortion. A Rangers spokesman refuted Altaf's allegations saying a fact sheet would shortly be issued elaborating the actions against the MQM workers.
While the MQM continued to demand withdrawal of the Rangers from Karachi, other opposition parties and leaders including Pir Pagara and Ayaz Palejo said the withdrawal of Rangers from Karachi would lead to revival of bloodshed and heinous crimes in the city.
Prior to the meeting, PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had a special meeting with Karachi Corps Commander Lt-Gen. Naveed Mukhtar and DG Rangers in the presence of Chief minister Qaim Ali Shah and discussed party's reservations about Rangers operation. He reportedly lauded the actions taken by Ranges against corrupt elements in the government and the bureaucracy hoping these would be continued till its main targets are achieved.
The Apex Committee meeting was informed that as many as 48 seminaries in Sindh had contacts with terrorists while more than 150 unregistered madrassas had been sealed off.
The Apex Committee meeting at the Chief Minister's House was an emergency session attended among others by Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan, Karachi Corps Commander Lt-Gen. Naveed Mukhtar, Director-General Sindh Rangers Maj-Gen. Bilal Akbar, Sindh Home Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal, Sindh Chief Secretary Siddique Memon, home secretary and officials of the army, paramilitary forces and intelligence organisations.
The meeting of the Apex Committee was convened on short notice as the Sindh CM was scheduled to leave for Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah. The crucial meeting of the committee was held in the backdrop of strained military-civil relations in Sindh.
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