LAHORE: The Punjab government on Friday extended the policing powers of the Pakistan Rangers in the province for another 60 days, according to an Interior Ministry notification.
The Rangers will continue to have policing and other powers for prevention of terrorism according to the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) 1997, for 60 days starting August 21, a notification said.
The decision to deploy Rangers in Punjab came in the aftermath of a suicide attack at Charing Cross on Lahore’s Mall Road on February 13, which claimed the lives of 14 people, including police officials.
Punjab is termed by many to be a hotbed of militants and banned outfits, but the provincial government had been reluctant to call in the Rangers, as it apprehended a Karachi-like situation with the paramilitary force acting independent of provincial authorities.
Published in Daily Times, August 26th 2017.
