KARACHI, May 28: The senate’s standing committee has sent its recommendations to the federal interior ministry for the removal of Rangers personnel from public buildings.

In a prompt action, the committee has sent the proposal to the ministry after incorporating the observations, including separate living arrangements for the paramilitary force, which they had during a meeting with Rangers high-ups last week.

“Now we are waiting for the ministry’s response over our proposal,” said Senator Mohammad Talha Mahmood Aryan, the committee’s chairman.

He said: “We would keep reminding them [the interior ministry] to act on our recommendations and expect a positive response from their side in the next few weeks.” He said that members of the committee were fully convinced that Rangers should not be allowed to extend their stay in public buildings and this was made part of the lately sent recommendations to the ministry.

The senator said: “There are also other issues that we raised in the proposal and I personally hope that it will receive a positive response from the authorities concerned.”

The committee openly criticised last week the Rangers prolonged stay in public buildings, particularly the hostels of educational institutions such as the University of Karachi and Jamia Millia Degree College in Malir.

Staying in the metropolis for almost two decades, the force was actually called in 1989 by the Pakistan People’s Party government to assist the local police in a move to cap the rising political violence. However, recent recommendations from the senate committee reflect realisation within the government circles that the paramilitary force’s stay in public buildings causes resentment among Karachians.

“It’s not only the issue of public buildings but we believe Rangers’ stay in such facilities also affects their reputation among the masses. They are criticised for occupying such buildings. Unfortunately they don’t many options and they ultimately make such arrangements,” said Mr Aryan.

He said the federal interior minister had been asked to find proper land and initiate a residential project for the 12,000-strong paramilitary force in the city. The expenditure estimates for the Rangers amounted to over Rs350 million in the last provincial budget (2006-07). However, the authorities have so far not chalked out any clear policy on their future status in the city.

The committee that claims to be enjoying a limited mandate believes that it’s time to hand over the authority to control law and order to the local police in Karachi rather than depending on the paramilitary force, which is supposed to protect the border areas.

“At the same time, we have also asked better resources for the Rangers and police in Karachi to help them enhance their performance,” said the senator.

He pledged to continue taking up the issues of the Rangers’ limited resources with the authorities concerned to equip the force with the latest technology.

The committee has also recommended an increase in police resources to improve law and order and bring reforms at the administrative side of the department.