Shahbaz Sharif addressed the passing out parade of sub-inspectors at Sihala

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan is fighting the biggest war against terrorism and the nation is proud of the supreme sacrifices rendered by officers and jawans of Pak army and police in this war. He said that besides the use of force, social and economic measures and provision of justice at every level is also essential for the complete elimination of terrorism. He said that highly educated police sub-inspectors selected through Public Service Commission will bring about a positive change in Thana culture.

He was addressing the passing out parade of sub-inspectors selected through Public Service Commission who completed their training at Police College Sihala, today.

The Chief Minister said that Punjab government is providing maximum resources for the training and betterment of police so as to ensure merit and justice and funds will continue be provided in future as well for modernizing Police Department. He said that Pakistan will not be lagging behind any nation if it succeeded in setting up a system which is based on justice and merit. He said that no nation will be able to compete with Pakistan if Thana culture is transformed.

The Chief Minister was also presented guard of honour. He inspected parade of sub-inspectors and gave away shields and prizes to the sub-inspectors who displayed outstanding performance. He announced special cash prize of Rs.25 lakh for the trainers who imparted training to the sub-inspectors. He also announced big city allowance for the employees of Police College Sihala.

Shahbaz Sharif said that Pakistan Muslim League-N government had started the process of recruitment of officers and jawans in Police Department purely on merit basis through the direct recruitment of inspectors through Public Service Commission in 1998 but this journey was stopped due to the unconstitutional step on October 12.

The Chief Minister said that he is extremely pleased today that the process of change in thana culture has again started today. It is highly satisfactory that the officers which have passed out include one Ph.D, two M. Phil, 31 engineers, 34 LLB, 17 MBA, 35 MCS, 48 MA and other graduates having excellent educational record. He said it is also very important that among the batch of 411, there are also 76 highly educated police women officers.

Shahbaz Sharif further said that during the training period, these officers have been imparted high standard training in foreign institutions as well as given special lectures by experts. Moreover, practical training has also been given to the officers in the investigation of cases, he added. He said that ongoing collaboration with international institutions for the training of police officers on modern lines will be further promoted. He said that highly educated police officers is the hope of the nation and if we succeeded in transforming thana culture and elimination of greed and coercion for the supremacy of merit, the Pakistani nation will not lag behind any other in the world.

The Chief Minister said that PML-N had laid the foundation of the recruitments in police and other sectors purely on merit basis in 1998 and it is due to the fact that among the current batch of sub inspectors, there is also a youth who was a labourer but he worked very hard and got a master degree and gold medal and has been selected on merit. He expressed the hope that these police officers who have been selected on merit will follow justice and merit in the practical life. He said that Punjab government has paid special attention to improving the image of police for transformation of thana culture. He said that discipline, training, politeness and dealing with crimes in professional manner is the hallmark of Punjab police.

Shahbaz Sharif congratulated the sub inspectors who passed out today and said that nation is proud of these competent and brave sons and daughters and it is a matter of pleasure that a large number of them are joining Punjab police so that justice could be upheld and problems of the common man could be resolved. He said that the passing out parade of sub inspectors who have completed training in Sihala is continuity of the process which was started in 1998.

He said that the modern training has been received under Inspector General Police Mushtaq Sukhera and Commandant Sihala College with the full support of Punjab government is a matter of pride for the whole nation and their parents and he congratulated the passing out sub inspectors, their trainers and the concerned staff who has worked hard during nine months.

He expressed the hope that these sub inspectors equipped with modern training will come into the practical field and justice will be upheld. He said that they will also redress the grievances of common man through their determination and commitment.  He further said that the process of direct recruitments t of inspectors through Public Service Commission was started in 1998 and its purpose was to change thana culture so that the problems of common citizens could be resolved.

He said that these sub inspectors will bring about a change in thana culture as they are ray of the hope for the nation and 18 crore people of Pakistan especially ten crore citizens of Punjab are looking towards them and it is their responsibility to provide justice to them. Shahbaz Sharif said that if police system at thana level will change and justice will be available without any discrimination, no nation of the world can compete with Pakistanis. He said that the dream of Quaid and Iqbal will be realized only when justice and merit will be upheld in the society and it is the key to success.

The Chief Minister appreciated to the police in the war against terrorism and elimination of crimes and said that sacrifices made by police officers, jawans and the children will not go waste and the nation is proud of them. He said that officers and jawans of Pak army also rendered invaluable sacrifices in the war against terrorism and achieved glorious successes in the operation zarb-e-azb. He expressed the hope that time will come when terrorism will be rooted out from the country as it is essential for progress and prosperity of Pakistan.

He said that in order to ensure progress of the country it is the need of the hour to change the existing obsolete system and evolve other system where there is no discrimination between rich and the poor, justice will be available to all citizens there are equal facilities of health while opportunities of progress are available to all without any discrimination. He said that there is saying of Hazrat Ali (RA) that a system which is based on injustice cannot survive.

He said that police force has set shining example of courage and bravery in the war against terrorism as well as eradication of crimes. He said that recovery of kidnapped police officials through an operation against dacoits in Rahim Yar Khan and immediate recovery of an abducted child of Saint Mary Park Lahore by a sub inspector is a good example of police efficiency. He said that police can improve image and gain respect of government as well as common citizen to its performance and efficiency. He further said that in order to transform Pakistan in accordance with the ideals of Quaid and Iqbal, a system of merit, transparency and trust as well as supremacy of merit will have to be introduced.

The Chief Minister on this occasion, announced further training of top thirty trainers abroad, big city allowance to employees of Police College Sihala, a cash prize of Rs. 25 lakh for experts, teachers and trainers who imparted training to sub-inspectors. He also thanked guest speakers for delivering special lectures in Police College Sihala.

He also congratulated passing out police officers as well as their parents and families. While recording his impressions in the visitors’ book, the Chief Minister said that he was very pleased to visit Police College Sihala.

Provincial Minister for Home Col. (Retd.) Shuja Khanzada, Secretary Home Punjab Major (Retd.) Azam Sulman, IG Police Mushtaq Ahmed Sukhera, Commandant Police College Sihala DIG Aamir Zulfiqar, Course Commandant Police College Sihala SSP Ali Mohsin, Representative of United Nation to Pakistan on Drugs and Crimes Mr. Cesav Guedf and Mr. Collie Brown besides senior officers of civil and police and a large number of relatives of sub inspectors who passed out were present on the occasion.