Rangers should be given full powers in Punjab: Parvez

Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) senior leader Chaudhry Parvez Elahi said on Monday that Rangers should be given full powers in Punjab to start Karachi-like operation forthwith. Addressing a news conference on Monday, Elahi said: "If rulers do not have intention to defame Rangers by failing the proposed operation in Punjab, they must be given full powers to start Karachi-like operation without any discrimination. The arrests of facilitators must be started from a minister, he suggested.
"The decision of Army Chief to hold PSL final in Lahore is a welcome move," Elahi said: "Despite 9/11, foreign cricket teams including India undertook successful tours during our tenure. If the attackers of Sri Lankan team were arrested and sentenced forthwith, our reputation would not have been spoiled like this." In reply to a question, he said that establishment of military courts is being delayed because of bad intention of rulers but hopefully this matter will be settled soon.
The PML-Q leader said that all opposition parties including their party have been demanding that there will be no peace all over Pakistan until indiscriminate operation is launched in Punjab. Elahi said during the last four years the adamant Shehbaz Sharif neither launched operation himself nor let the Rangers do it because of which terrorist incidents took place all over Pakistan including Punjab and thousands of innocent persons died and injured.
He said during the first two months of current year, 150 persons became victims of terrorism. Some 625 incidents occurred in 2015 claiming 1,080 lives and injuring 1,500 people. In 2016, about 900 died and 1,418 injured in 441 such incidents. Had a timely operation been launched in Punjab, Chottu-like gangs would not have been born against whom the army carried out successful operation.
Elahi said if the government is sincere in launching operation, then all the facilitators including a provincial minister should also be arrested. He said Shahbaz Sharif is not concerned about the country, nation or people; he is only interested in making dollars through various projects.