Whither Sindh Rangers DG?

The post of Director General Rangers Sindh is lying vacant since June 14 when its last incumbent Major General Aijaz Chaudhry was displaced from the slot after the Supreme Court ordered his removal when Rangers’ jawans killed a young man.
Now the Rangers in Sindh is being commanded by Brigadier Zafar Iqbal who is the acting DG, and sources have confided that as such there are no clues in the power corridors that the quarters concerned have made a move for appointing a regular DG Rangers for the province.
Defence analysts and senior ex-military officers deem that there was something ‘deliberate’ in it. They are confused about the continuation of the interim arrangement. “Why is an officer of the rank of a Brigadier heading an institution like Rangers? And who is a hurdle in the appointment of a Major General as DG Rangers, which is a constitutional requirement?” they questioned, while asserting that the situation was being allowed to deteriorate, and one of the implications of keeping a key-post vacant was that the concerned quarters were going soft on it.
They have also observed that though the top officers of the force are from the Army, but the paramilitary force falls under the purview of the federal government, and the present dispensation’s no effort in this regard raises certain questions, especially when the force has launched an operation against the miscreants and criminals in the blood-drenched city, which is bleeding for quite some time now, and there is no end in sight to this as well.
Experts believe that under normal circumstances an Acting DG can manage matters, but in an extraordinary situation when the operation has been initiated, this ‘sanctioned post’ should have been filled immediately when it fell vacant. They mentioned that as a matter of routine the Military-Secretary Branch of the Army’s General Headquarters sends a panel of three officers to the Interior Ministry for the appointment of a regular incumbent to the post. They also assert that since the matter was extremely pressing, the Ministry should have made a move, and if it has not, then it gives rise to serious questions. To them, this very fact amply proves why the Rangers have been ineffective so far. “In case, he – Brigadier instead of a Major General – has to get in contact with the GHQ for certain decisions, his communication will be certainly marred, and his decision-making power will be adversely affected as the present incumbent is also vulnerable to civil orders,” they observed, adding that the Rangers was familiar with the Karachi’ites primarily because of its long-time deployment. “If the Rangers has to do it, then give it all powers, and place the police under it. For this, neither new legislation is required nor nod from the federal government, but willingness to act earnestly after doing the spadework, including appointing DG Rangers,” they opined.
General (retd) Hameed Gull, while averring that one man rule suited the US, said it was wrong. “It is beyond the understanding why the slot has been kept vacant,” he added.
Brig (retd) Farooq Hameed maintained that the DG had to appointed, and the force should not have a Brigadier as an Acting DG. “It is a serious flaw since from the command and control point of view, it is an imperative and a full-time job, which leaves little room for adhocism,” he averred, adding that the operation was being carried out under the Interior Ministry, not Army. “Why is the federal government having an acting arrangement?” he questioned.
Brig (retd) Pervez Asghar Mian, who has served in Karachi, observed that in Karachi, the whole operation was a musical chair, and no body was serious to carry out it honestly.
When contacted DG Inter-Services Public Relations Major-General Ather Abbas said the DG Rangers was removed after the SC decision, and since then this post was vacant. “I cannot offer comment on it because I will have to check it from the MS Branch,” he concluded.
PPP’s Sindh leader Sharmila Farooqui sees no problem in this since “they are no administrative issues, and the acting DG is performing well. And you never know he could be elevated to the higher post,” she asserted, while admitting that appointment of a regular incumbent would have been an ideal situation.

Sharifs take lead in securing security

Out of 511 elite police force cops deputed for VVIPs and VIPs, 455 are on duty for providing security to the elitist politicians of all shades, and their families, whereas 33 costly EPH vehicles are plying on roads accompanying the present and past rulers and their kith and kin.
As per sources, this figure minuses other senior and junior cops from the police deputed at their residences – also meant for controlling law and order situation – while their number keeps on changing depending upon the ‘need for security’ and movement in any particular area. Secondly, figures of elite cops also fluctuate from time to time as per ‘requirement’ and ‘security threat’ to the ‘chosen’ heads and their families. Moreover, 2100 cops are ‘duty bound’ for standing on routes of President, Prime Minister and Chief Minister.
Documents available with The Nation depict that in one year, 900 Elite cops are picked up for training, and out of them only 500 to 600 qualify, whereas the expenditure on their training and equipments, that is, arms and ammunition, bullet-proof jackets, vehicles for the elite team, and other miscellaneous items, cost the exchequer Rs 350 million.
Across the province in all districts, and four police constabularies 5832 elite force men have been deployed. The provincial metropolis has the highest number of elite cops, that is, 962, but only 451 – including guys on leave – have been ‘spared’ for guarding sensitive buildings, political offices and protecting the masses, which means that 64 per cent are protecting the elite of this society.
Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif and his immediate family have 171 cops and eight vehicles, which are the highest figures in comparison to the families of Premier Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and the Chaudharys, who are having 88 and 74 escorts respectively besides each has been provided with seven vehicles.
However, cumulatively the Sharif family has 238 cops and 16 EPH vehicles are its disposal. Besides the CM, Quaid PML-N ex-PM Nawaz Sharif has 54 cops and five vehicles, Shahbaz Sharif family 12 cops and one, MNA Hamza Shahbaz 24 and one, Salman Shahbaz seven and one, MNA Captain (r) Safdar six and one, Raiwind residence 64 and two, and CM’s residence of Gulberg has 30 elite cops and one vehicle.
Moreover, President PML Ch Shujaat Hussain, ex-CM Punjab Ch Pervaiz Elahi, MPA Ch Moonis Elahi and Ch Shafey Hussain have been provided 36, 22 and eight each respectively.
PML-N MNA from Faisalabad Sahibzada Fazal Kareem also stands out with 11 cops at his disposal.
PPP’s Governor Punjab Salman Taseer has 41 elite Jawans and two vehicles at his disposal for security. Senior Minister Raja Riaz Ahmed has ten cops and one vehicle for his security cover.
Senior Advisor to CM Sirdar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa and his son Sirdar Dost Muhammad Khan Khosa have been given 10 and 13 cops, one and two vehicles respectively.
Besides the politicians, state functionaries are also having cops’ security cover. 24 elite men for Chief Justice of Pakistan and his family, 15 for CJ Lahore High Court, 13 for chief cop Punjab Tariq Saleem Dogar, 1 for Secretaries Industries, 9 for Director General Intelligence Bureau and 11 have been provided to Chairman NATCA. 23 cops are deputed for VVIP security at four special branches in equal number of districts. Moreover, 53 cops and two vehicles have been provided at Army House picket Rawalpindi.
On the other hand, at the American Consulate General, with Dosti Bus and Chinese Engineers, respectively 32, 16 and 10 cops have been deputed.