ISLAMABAD: A controversy has arised between the Punjab Rangers and the Interior Ministry over the issue of the suspicious raid conducted in the Islamabad outskirts without informing the district administration.
The Interior Ministry has warned the Punjab Rangers of taking back its policing powers if it fails to explain by Monday a recent controversial raid in the outskirts of Islamabad.
Rangers carried out a raid on a private housing society in Islamabad on the night of May 13 and arrested several people without informing the district administration.
According to the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 under which Rangers were permitted to operate in Punjab, the paramilitary force is bound to work alongside the police and keep the district administration in the loop regarding its operations. However, no such actions were taken during the raid in question, the sources added.
After two previous notices demanding explanations from the Rangers went un-replied, the interior ministry — with the approval of the minister — has warned the paramilitary force in the latest notice of withdrawing their policing powers in Punjab if a reply is not received by Monday, May 22, sources informed further.