Terrorists, facilitators to be brought to justice: Punjab government

While the federal government on Wednesday formally acceded to the Punjab government's request for the deployment of Rangers in the province of Punjab, the provincial government has expressed the resolve that the terrorists and their facilitators, wherever they are, would be chased and brought to justice. "We need national solidarity and strong nerves to fight against terrorism and extremism in the country," sources in the Punjab government said.
As per reports, the Rangers will 'assist' Punjab police and law enforcement agencies in their fight against terror for a period of 60 days. The Punjab government had requested the federal government to deploy over 2,000 Rangers in the province who would be given policing powers to conduct intelligence-based operations (IBOs) against militants wherever required.
The sources claimed that Rangers are expected to work in league with the provincial Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD). Regular police will be asked for support only if required. The Rangers has been vested powers under Section 5 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). All terror-related cases will be registered at CTD police stations. Rangers will also be able to get cases registered under the law with legal cover for all other actions during and after operations.
Section 5(1) of the ATA states that any police officer, or member of the armed forces, or civil armed forces (Rangers) who is present or deployed in any area may, after giving sufficient warning, use the necessary force to prevent the commission of terrorist acts or scheduled offences.
In doing so, he, in the case of an officer of the armed forces or civil armed forces, shall exercise all the powers of a police officer under the Code (Criminal Procedure Code 1898). Section 5(2) of the law says that in particular and without prejudice to generality of the provisions of subsection, an officer of the police, armed forces and civil armed forces may, after giving prior warning use such force as may be deemed necessary or appropriate bearing in mind all the facts and circumstances of the situation, against any person who is committing a terrorist act or a scheduled offence.
The sources claimed that Rangers would have powers for entering and searching, without warrant, any premises to make any arrest or to take possession of any property, firearm, weapon or article used, or likely to be used, for any offence of terrorism.
The decision to deploy Rangers in Punjab was taken on Sunday at a meeting of the provincial apex committee presided over by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and attended, among others, by the national security adviser, Lahore Corps Commander Lieutenant General Sadiq Ali, and Punjab Rangers Director General Major General Azhar Naveed Hayat. The decision came in the aftermath of a suicide attack at Chairing Cross on Lahore's Mall Road on February 13, which claimed 14 lives, including Deputy Inspector General Captain Mubin and Senior Superintendent of Police Zahid Nawaz Gondal.