KARACHI: A restriction on the special powers extended to the Rangers for another year by the Sindh Assembly through a resolution by making the chief minister`s approval necessary for the arrest of those not directly involved in terror activities drew a strong reaction from the business community as traders` associationplanned protests, including siege of the assembly building, against the move on Thursday.

The Karachi Tajir Ittehad (KTI) warned the provincial government that any sort of change in the previous mandate of the paramilitary force would draw resistance from the traders and businessmen who emerged as the key beneficlary of the Rangers-led targeted operation in the metropolis.

`We will not even hear that,said Atig Meer of the KTI which represents the city`s nearly 300 market and traders` associations.

`The acceptance of such a move is out of the question. This is the reason why without any delay we will hold a rally tomorrow (Thursday) in the city`s commercial centre.

Traders will gather at Pakistan Chowk and march towards the Sindh Assembly building.

Earlier in April 2011, the city`s commercial activities came to astandstill on a call of the KTI in protest against extortion activities and lawlessness. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement, which was then a coalition partner in the Sindh government, had supported the move.

That `grim law and order` situation for the KTI could reemerge if the Sindh government notified the proposed move. He said the traders would continue their protest if the paramilitary force was notgiven the authority to take actions without the approval of a `political government`.

He said the traders had every democratic and legal right to raise their voice `to save the national institution`.

`We were scared, losing hopes of business in this vulnerable city due to violence and strikes till 2013. For the past one year or so when the level of confidence of traders has grown only due to the Rangers-led operations, they want [Sindh government] us to go back to the same dark age. It`s not acceptable.

The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), however, remained cautious saying it could only look into the matter once the government notified the mandate of the Pakistan Rangers, Sindh, for their future line of action. However, the industrial leaders of the country`s business capital made it clear they did not want to see a change in the R angers powers mainly in Karachi.

`In the past we have seen that the resolutions passed in the assembly do not make it when it comes to become law or defined regulation,` said Younus Muhammad Bashir, the KCCI president. `We will wait for the notification to be issued before commenting on this subject. So we don`t want any controversy to arise at this point of time and only hopethat the government will give peace a chance.

Asked what they would do if the notification echoed the Sindh Assembly`s resolution, he made it clear that the `industrialists will not like any such move`. `In the past when the city situation was bad, it was the KCCI that took up the matter with the authorities in Islamabad and the high-ups of the law-enforcement agencies. We will do that again. We don`t want any agitation but definitely keep the right to convey our concerns and demands,` added Mr Bashir.

Interestingly, the Karachi Electronics Dealers` Association, which only a few weeks ago had demanded a `proper check` on the Rangers special powers when the paramilitary soldiers had raided the electronics market in Saddar, also came out in support of the `special powers till the arrest of the last criminal and terrorist`.

`We still demand checks and balances,` said Muhammad Idrees of the KEDA. `But it doesn`t mean that their role should be wrapped up.