Enemies are conspiring to destabilize the country:Shahbaz Sharif

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that Islam is a religion of peace and harmony and directed that stern action should be taken against the elements promoting sectarianism. He said that it is the national and religious responsibility of elected representatives to play an active role for the maintenance of law and order during Moharram-ul-Haram. He said that Assembly Members should monitor the arrangements for maintaining civic peace as well as promote sentiments of tolerance and brotherhood in the society. He said that enemies of Pakistan are conspiring to destabilize the country and it is the collective responsibility of all citizens to foil their nefarious designs through maintaining unity and harmony in their ranks. He said that Assembly Members, Ulema and Mashaikh should promote tolerance and brotherhood in the masses. He said that foolproof security arrangements have been made for Moharram-ul-Haram and law and order will be ensured at any cost.

He was addressing a high level meeting to ensure law and order and an atmosphere of peace and harmony during Moharram-ul-Haram, here today. Senior Advisor Senator Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa, Provincial Ministers Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, Ch. Abdul Ghafoor, Advisors to Chief Minister Zakia Shahnawaz, Kh. Salman Rafique, Assembly Members, Chief Secretary, Advocate General Punjab, Secretary Home, Commissioner Lahore Division, Additional IGs Police, CCPO Lahore, District Coordination Officer Lahore and concerned officers were present. The meeting also reviewed the security arrangements on the routes of mourning processions.
Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister said that Punjab government has evolved a solid strategy for maintaining law and order during Moharram-ul-Haram and the situation is being closely watched with the cooperation of Ulema, Zakireen and public representatives while security arrangements around mosques and Imam Barghas have been intensified. He said that strict action is being taken against those who are providing lodging at hotels, guest houses and inns to the guests without checking their national identity card and it has been made binding upon the owners not to allow anyone not having original ID card stay at their hotel, guest house or inn. He said that action is being taken without any discrimination against those delivering provocative speeches while a complete ban has been imposed on the publication of objectionable literature. He further directed that the ban on wall-chalking should be strictly imposed. He directed that four-tier security arrangements should be ensured for Majalis and mourning processions while parking arrangements should be made at a distance from the security cordon. He said that debris lying on the routes of mourning processions should immediately be removed whereas arrangements for generators, streetlights and cleanliness should be finalized.

He said that the routes of mourning processions should be cleared only after thorough checking. He said that there should not be any negligence in the checking of the participants of Majalis and religious processions through metal detectors and scanners. The Chief Minister ordered suspension of the concerned Superintendent Jail on the complaint of violation of the ban on the use of mobile phone in prison and directed IG Jails to ensure strict implementation of this ban in prisons. He directed that police and law enforcement agencies should perform their duties efficiently during Moharram-ul-Haram and no one should be allowed to pass the security cordon without checking. He directed Members Cabinet Committee to monitor the arrangements for law and order during Moharram-ul-Haram on daily basis and Assembly Members should also attend these meetings at any cost. The Chief Minister further directed that observance of the timings fixed for the start and termination of processions should be ensured. He also directed that all out measures should be taken for extending foolproof security cover to Yuam-e-Aashur processions while the patch work of roads on the routes of mourning processions should be immediately completed. The Chief Minister was given a detailed briefing regarding security arrangements for Moharram-ul-Haram