CM Punjab chairs a meeting to review law & order situation

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif presided over a high level meeting which reviewed in detail security arrangements and the overall law & order situation in the province. The meeting decided to take all out steps to protect the life and property of the citizens.

The Chief Minister issued special instructions to the concerned authorities with regard to making foolproof security of mosques, imambargahs, worship places and other important places.

The meeting decided that investigation of the cases of heinous crimes will be completed under a specific mechanism.

The Chief Minister directed to constitute a committee headed by Pervaiz Malik MNA and said that this committee would evolve a comprehensive strategy for early investigation of cases of heinous crimes and provision of justice to the complainants.

Shahbaz Sharif said that he will himself review the progress of the cases of heinous crimes. The meeting gave approval to the programme of reorganization of Special Branch and Elite Police Force for harmonizing with modern demands. He directed concerned authorities to formulate a coordinated programme for reorganization of Special Branch and Elite Police Force. He said that modern training and refresher courses are vital for capacity-building of officials of Special Branch and Elite Police Force. He said that a short, medium and long term planning should be made in this regard.

The Chief Minister said that preparation regarding expansion of Elite Police Training School should immediately be started for keeping in view the future requirements. He said that in the present changing situation, nature of dimensions of police responsibilities have also changed. He said that harmonizing police with the demands of new situations is essential. Shahbaz Sharif said that the effective system of punishment and reward in police is of basic importance in the provision of justice. Therefore, effective monitoring system in police should be evolved so that check and balance could be ensured, he added.

The Chief Minister said that Punjab government has constituted Counter Terrorism Force equipped with modern training and after passing out, its first contingent has taken over its responsibilities. He said that the role of counter terrorism force is of national importance. Shahbaz Sharif directed to finalize service structure of counter terrorism force at the earliest and said that a formula of fast track promotion of best corporals should be evolved so that jawans of this special force could be fully encouraged. He disclosed that police stations for Counter Terrorism Force are being set up throughout the province. He said that use of modern technology in Anti Terrorism Department is need of the hour.

The Chief Minister said that paperless system would be introduced in Anti-Terrorism Department. He said that police has been provided resources earlier and will be given in future as well. He directed that police should discharge its duties diligently for providing justice to common man and spare no effort in redressing the grievances of common man in police station.

Members Assembly Pervaiz Malik, Rana Sanaullah, Syed Zaeem Hussain Qadri, Chief Secretary, Special Assistant Rana Maqbool Ahmed, Secretary Home, Secretaries of concerned departments and senior officials attended the meeting.