KARACHI: The Sindh government has equipped Rangers with special powers to meet the challenge of terrorists, target killers and extortionists and eliminate ‘no-go-areas’ from the city.

A notification was issued on Thursday by the home department in the light of decisions taken at a Sindh cabinet meeting earlier this week.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani chaired the meeting in Karachi on Monday in the wake of increasing target killings, recovery of bodies stuffed in gunny bags, kidnapping for ransom and increasing threats to traders and industrialists for extortion.

In was decided in the meeting not to call out the army because police and Rangers representatives said they were capable of dealing with the situation.

It was decided that Rangers be given police powers to carry out search without warrant and take action against criminals and elements having intentions to carry out terrorist acts.

Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah approved a summary submitted by Home Minister Manzoor Wasan.

The notification, issued by Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Waseem Ahmad, authorised officers of Rangers to exercise all powers of police under the code and authorised them to cordon off an area under control of terrorists, criminals, and retaliate, when fired upon, and shall arrest without warrant any person who has committed an act of terrorism or a scheduled offence, and in doing so are authorised to enter and search, without warrant, any premises to make arrest, take possession of any property related to crime, fire-arm, weapon, explosive or any other article used or likely to be used in the commission of above scheduled offence.

The notification said: “Pakistan Rangers shall prevent terrorism in the district and use necessary force to prevent commission of acts of terrorism, take action against target killers, Bhatta collectors and clear no-go-areas, if any.

“In supersession to the department’s notification of 20.7.2011, the validity of period, for exercise of powers, envisaged under section 5 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, by Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) in City District Karachi, is extended for three months with immediate effect.”