ISLAMABAD - The Ministry of Interior yesterday released expenditure details being spent by the federal government on Rangers in Sindh but strangely these gave credence to the Sindh government's claim that centre did not pay it a penny on account of expenses incurred on paramilitary force's on-going operation there.
The ministry in a statement, giving reference to the pink book of the federal budget, said it had allocated Rs 9 billion for Rangers in Sindh during the fiscal year 2015-16 as compared to the Sindh government that has allocated Rs 2.5 billion during the current budget for the force in the province.
The Interior Division released these details amid criticism from the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and the party-led Sindh government against the federal government that it did not give any money to it for the on-going Rangers-led targeted operation in Sindh and especially in Karachi. PPP's condemnation came during the controversy over the extension of Ranges' powers in Sindh as the provincial government wanted limited powers for Rangers for another 60 days.
However, going through the pink book, it reveals that Rs 9 billion allocated by the federation for Sindh Rangers had been totally earmarked for the salaries, residences and mess etc of the force. The allocation did not include the operational expenses of the force. According to the pink book, the federal government spent Rs 7.64 billion during the fiscal year 2013-14 and Rs 8.5 billion during 2014-15 budget as compared to allocation of Rs 9 billion.
The pink book further says that Sindh government had allocated Rs 2.5 billion for the operational expenses of the force in the province. Out of total Rs2.5 billion allocation, it had allocated Rs 1.7 billion on account of payment of internal security duty allowance to Rangers, Rs 0.7 billion for operating expenses of the force, Rs 9.405 million for physical assets and Rs 40.135 million for repair and maintenance during the fiscal year 2015 -16. Interestingly, Sindh government spent Rs 32.4 million for martyrs during fiscal 2013-14 and Rs 9.5 million during 2014-15. It also bore Rs 2.2 billion during the fiscal 2013-14 and Rs 2.6 billion during 2014-15 on Rangers. Spokesman to Co-Chairman PPP Asif Ali Zardari and senior PPP lawmaker Senator Farhatullah Babar while talking to The Nation said that the claim of the federal government was wrong in this regard. Since the start of Rangers-led operation in Sindh from 2013, it was decided that 50 percent cost of the operation would be borne each by the federal and Sindh governments. "However, the federal government did not pay a single penny to the provincial government since then," he said adding, that Sindh was bearing 100 percent cost of operation.
Babar explained that the cost included allowances for petrol of the vehicles, miscellaneous expenditures, accidental coverage, maintenance during the course of operations. About the federal government's decision to extend powers of Rangers while rejecting the summary of Sindh government, he said, "It means that the federal government says that it pays for the paramilitary force and it has the right to conquer province". The province has not asked for amendment in the federal law but asked for limited powers under Article 147 of the Constitution. He said the article says that the provincial government could call central forces conditionally and unconditionally for its aid or assistance in security duties.