ISLAMABAD: Uncertainty prevailed on the issue of deployment of Frontier Constabulary (FC) personnel in Karachi as Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on Thursday that no FC man had been deployed in the city and MQM leaders expressed ignorance about the matter.

“I have talked to Interior Minister Rehman Malik and he said that no FC personnel have been deployed in Karachi,” President’s spokesman Farhatullah Babar told Dawn.

The interior minister claimed that some FC personnel were already present in Karachi but they were engaged in providing security to diplomats.

The spokesman quoted the interior minister as saying: “The FC are on standby and will be deployed only when they are required to control the situation.”

However, media reports said that Sindh home department had issued a notification last week that stated: “In pursuance of the Ministry of Interior, Government of Pakistan’s notification dated 2nd August, 2011, the Government of Sindh grants powers of police to Frontier Constabulary personnel deployed in Karachi to apprehend criminal elements involved in firing and killing of innocent citizens in various areas and zones of the city (where situation warrants deployment of FC). They are authorised to cordon, search and use force in controlling firing by criminals in affected areas.”

The Sindh government has already given powers of police to Rangers in Karachi.

Interestingly, there was no mention about deployment of the FC in Karachi in a recently-held high-level meeting at the Presidency.

When contacted, MQM Rabita Committee chairman and Leader of the Opposition in the Sindh Assembly Raza Haroon said that Interior Minister Rehman Malik had announced deployment of 1,000 FC personnel.

“But on the ground, we have not seen FC Jawans in Karachi streets,” he said.

He said deteriorating law and order situation in the city could be controlled if police and Rangers made sincere efforts without being influenced or pressurised politically.

“The Rangers and police are capable of controlling the situation and thus there is no need for FC deployment,” he said.

Mr Haroon said that station house officers (SHOs) of police stations enjoyed enough powers and if they were backed by Rangers there was no question they could not restore peace to areas of their jurisdiction.

“Lame excuses by police that trouble makers are supported by political parties do not only reflect weakness of police but also encourage criminals to continue their agenda of looting and killing innocent people,” he said.