The Sindh Rangers director general suggested on Saturday that the institution should be given police powers to ensure law and order in the province amid rising crimes, demanding special authority as given in the past to fight terrorism.

This came during a meeting presided over by Sindh High Court Chief Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi on the disturbed law and order situation in Karachi, Larkana, Sukkur and other areas of the province. The meeting lasted for more than four hours.

In the recent past, the southern province of Pakistan has seen an increase in crime and many people have lost their lives. Street crimes and the presence of dacoits in the riverine areas, better known as Katcha, have disturbed the situation.

Officials told the Sindh government last month that nearly 16,000 street crimes had so far been recorded in the metropolis since January. Home Minister Zia Lanjar and IGP Riffat Mukhtar had said that 7,822 cases of street crime in the city were recorded in January 2024 and 5,876 in February and 2,234 in March (till 12 March).

When asked about the issue of dacoits in the border regions of Punjab and Sindh, PPP leader Khursheed Shah told Aaj News that the issue would be resolved in a month.

Pakistan Rangers (Sindh), along with police, have been providing services for the maintenance of the province.

The high court had summoned the Sindh Rangers director general, DIGs of Sukkur and Larkana, and heads of police from different cities to the meeting.

The Rangers DG demanded that said that they do not have police-like powers in rest of the province except Karachi, without which effective action could not be taken.

While expressing concerns over the law and order in the province, SHC CJ Abbasi ordered the officials to ensure peace in Karachi and other cities within a month. He advised police and Rangers to conduct joint operations.

Strict action should be taken against those who run the dacoits in the riverine areas, CJ Abbasi said and added that their names should be brought to light. “No matter how powerful the patron may be, he should be brought under the law.”

Strict action should be taken against those who run the dacoits in the riverine areas, CJ Abbasi said and added that their names should be brought to light. “No matter how powerful the patron may be, he should be brought under the law.”

The SHC chief justice also expressed his displeasure over the frequent transfers of SSPs.

The Sindh IG gave a detailed briefing on the operation against dacoits in the riverine areas including street crime in Karachi and the law and order situation, prompting the CJ to say that there was unrest in the province.

Sindh IGP Ghulam Nabi Memon told reporters after the meeting it was agreed that peace and order would be ensured throughout the province, including Karachi. It was decided that a meeting would be held after 15 days and the progress report would also be presented in the meeting.