CM advises administration how to maintain law & order

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has stressed the need for national solidarity and harmony in the country and said that making Punjab a haven of peace is a collective responsibility. He said that Ministers, Assembly Members, ticket-holders of Pakistan Muslim League-N, administration and police authorities should play a vigorous role for maintaining law and order and perform their responsibilities in a proactive manner in their respective areas so that no miscreant could disrupt civic peace.

The Chief Minister issued instructions for making foolproof security arrangements in the province on Friday and directed administration and police to remain fully alert and depute more police force at mosques and Imam Bargahs.

He was addressing Assembly Members, Commissioners, RPOs and other concerned officers of nine divisions of the province through video link, here today. Chief Secretary, Inspector General Police Punjab, Secretary Home, Secretary Information and other concerned officers as well as In-charge Ministers of all divisions, Members National and Provincial Assemblies, ticket-holders of Pakistan Muslim League-N, administration and police authorities were also present.

The Chief Minister addressed the meeting through video link for more than two hours and gave instructions to Assembly Members, administration and police for ensuring peace in the province. The Chief Minister said that no effort should be spared for maintaining law and order as no negligence would be tolerated in this regard. He directed Assembly Members, administration and police to perform their duties under a collective strategy and a close coordination be maintained with Ulema and business community.

The Chief Minister directed that peace committees at district level be activated. He directed that all out measures be taken for maintaining peaceful atmosphere and law and order and no one be allowed to disrupt the situation. He appreciated the role of Ulema in maintaining peace in the wake of Rawalpindi incident. He appealed to Ulema to play more active role for peace, unity and tolerance in the society.

The Chief Minister directed Inspector General Police and Provincial Home Secretary that literature promoting religious hatred be immediately confiscated while wall-chalking be removed. He further directed that ban on the use of loudspeakers be strictly implemented and police should take stern action against the violators. He said that police and administrative officers performing their duties during Moharram-ul-Haram with a national spirit would be encouraged.

Shahbaz Sharif expressed the hope that an atmosphere of peace and law and order would be maintained on Friday through making foolproof security arrangements.

He expressed his satisfaction that situation has normalized after Rawalpindi incident and said that administrative machinery as well as Ulema and media played a commendable role in this regard. He said that the elements involved in Rawalpindi tragedy would not escape punishment. He said that damaged shops, mosque and Madrissa in Rawalpindi would immediately be reconstructed and Punjab government has issued funds for this purpose. In-charge Ministers of nine divisions, Members National and Provincial Assemblies, Commissioners, RPOs and other concerned officers informed the Chief Minister about security arrangements on Friday though video link.

Earlier, the Chief Minister presided over a meeting to review law and order situation in which Chief Secretary, Inspector General Police Punjab, Secretary Home, Secretary Information and other concerned officers were present. Overall law and order situation of the province was reviewed in the meeting.