ISLAMABAD: After much deliberation, the interior ministry gave a 60-day extension in the special policing powers of Rangers in Sindh, after a meeting at the ministry chaired by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, DawnNews reported on Tuesday.

The summary sent to the federal government by Sindh government on the matter of extending Ranger's policing powers was earlier rejected.

A letter was issued to the Sindh government in this regard on Tuesday, instructing it to draft a new summary regarding the matter without posting any conditions.

"The provincial assembly does not reserve the authority to amend the federal laws," the interior ministry said in a statement.

Also read: Sindh Assembly adopts resolution seeking to curtail Rangers’ powers

The above mentioned decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali khan at Punjab House.

The meeting was held to discuss the implications the said summary and devise the further course of action by interior ministry in this regard.

During the meeting, the summary regarding the extension in authority of the Pakistan Rangers was thoroughly discussed.

“It is not possible to limit the authority of any law-enforcing agency,” the interior ministry stated, adding that the power to limit the special powers of Rangers is reserved only by the Federal government.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah had earlier signed the summary to 'conditionally' extend the special powers of Pakistan Rangers in the province for 60 days and moved the summary to the interior ministry.

Read more: CM extends special powers of Rangers for 60 days

Special powers given to Rangers under the Anti-Terrorism Act had expired on December 5 and the Sindh government has been reluctant to extend them.

Earlier on Monday, the chief of the paramilitary force vowed that there would be no let-up in actions under the ‘Karachi operation’ and it would continue at the same pace “till its logical end”.

Read more: Operation to continue ‘till its logical end’, says Rangers DG

It said that under the National Action Plan and the Anti-Terrorism Act, Rangers had the mandate to conduct targeted operation against elements involved in four heinous crimes — terrorism, targeted killing, kidnapping for ransom and extortion, but the paramilitary force overstepped its authority by raiding government offices, arresting officials and seizing official records.

PPP reacts

Sindh Finance Minister Murad Ali Shah, in an apparent reaction, to Chaudhry Nisar's statement said that federal government has taken an 'unconstitutional' step today (Tuesday).

Talking to media, Shah also rejected Chaudhry Nisar's earlier claim that the federal government is providing Rs 9 billion for Rangers' expenses in Sindh.

"This claim of providing Sindh a sum of Rs 9 billion annually for Rangers is incorrect," said the provincial finance Minister.

Related: Federal govt spends Rs9bn annually on Sindh Rangers, asserts Nisar

Senior PPP leader Khursheed Shah also objected upon the move questioning Nisar's conduct of not taking Sindh chief minister into confidence.

The adviser to Sindh chief minister on information, Maula Bux Chandio, said that the federation is overtaking Sindh Assembly's authority.

"We have full confidence in Rangers, our objection is upon the federation," said Chandio.

He was of the view that the problems created for provinces by the federation will also have impacts on federation.

About Dr Asim Hussain case, Chandio said that the Sindh government will accept court's verdict in the case.

Interior ministry responds

The interior ministry, while replying to Murad Ali Shah's claim, said that the interior minister never claimed that the amount spent on Rangers in Sindh is given directly to Sindh government.

The statement released by interior ministry asserts that the federation spends Rs9 billion annually on paramilitary force in Sindh and the details regarding the expenditure will be released in the newspapers.

About the recent move to grant Rangers policing powers, the ministry maintained that if anyone has objection towards the move, he or she can access the court.