Rana Sana chairs law & order meeting in Bahawalpur

Lahore : Provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan has said that peace march would be held on the 9th of Ashura Muharram at all the district head quarters in the province which would be participated by elected representatives, high ups of the local district administration, members of peace committees, religious and social notables which would inspect the security arrangements for the central Azadari procession.

This peace march would ensure the practical participation of all stake holders who on foot would pass through the routes of the Azadari processions which would further enhance inter sectarian harmony, beef up security arrangements and would spread message of hope and peace.

He made these remarks while presiding over a high level joint meeting of divisional peace committee and high ranking officials and elected representatives of Bahawalpur division held at Circuit house, Bahawalpur, here, today.

The meeting was attended by Provincial Minister for Cooperative Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channer, Provincial home secretary Azam Salman, Inspector General of Police Mushtaq Ahmad Sukhera, Commissioner Bahawalpur Division Saqib Zafar, Elected representatives:- Jahangir Khanzada, Rana Abdul Rauf, Shokat Ali Lalika, Mian Fida Hussain Wattoo, Begum Hasina Naz, members of Divisional peace committee, DCOs and DPOs of Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar and Rahim yar Khan districts and other officers and officials of the concerned departments.

“For promoting inter-sectarian peace interfaith harmony, the positive, constructive and missionary endeavor of Ulma-e-Karam and religious scholars is highly appreciable which is a strong testimony of their missionary zeal to ensure sustainable peace and harmony in the society”, Provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah noted.

He further said that some couple of years ago peace committee Bahawalpur has taken an initiative to formulate a permanent committee comprising of religious scholars of all sects which served as a vanguard to ensure itehad bain-ul-muslimeen by their active participation at the central Azadari Procession on the eve of Aashura Muharram.

“Now Bahawalpur’s peace committee’s this initiative has been adopted as a role model which would serve as a vanguard of peace and harmony for the central Azadari processions in all the districts which would boost the prevailing exemplary atmosphere of inter sectarian harmony, brotherhood which is reflected through the practical reflection of itehad bain-ul-Muslimeen”, He said.

Rana Sanaullah further said that under the visionary, dynamic and bold leadership of Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif there had been significant reduction in the incidence of terrorism which has been achieved through the glorious sacrifices of our brave and courageous officials of police, security and intelligence agencies.

“Instead of acknowledging Punjab government’s exemplary achievements and giving due credit to its leadership, some elements have been spreading baseless rumors about government’s sincerity and commitment in this regard, but the people of Punjab have rejected their baseless allegations”, He maintained.

Provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah further said that to wipe out terrorism, the role of local facilitator must be decimated which requires sustained, active and effective vigilance on the movement of strangers at the community level. He urged upon citizens to immediately inform the local police about the presence and movements of strangers in their neighborhood.

Provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah paid rich tribute to the outstanding services of the members of the peace committee and said that Government was fully committed to empower them to review the forth schedule, ban on entry and gagging of various persons to further boost peace and harmony.

The meeting was addressed by Allama Mudassir Abbas Naqvi, Molana Mufti Muhammad Irshad, Khawaja Muhammad Idrees, Allama Riaz Ahmad Owaisi who assured their complete cooperation for promoting the message of peace and further enhancing ittehad bain-ul-muslimeen.

Later, a high level meeting was held to review the security arrangements for muharram-ul-haram in Bahawalpur Division. Provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah presided over the meeting.

The meeting was attended by Provincial Minister for Cooperative Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channer, Provincial home secretary Azam Salman, Inspector General of Police Mushtaq Ahmad Sukhera, Commissioner Bahawalpur Division Saqib Zafar, Elected representatives:- Jahangir Khanzada, Rana Abdul Rauf, Shokat Ali Lalika, Mian Fida Hussain Wattoo, Begum Hasina Naz, members of Divisional peace committee, DCOs and DPOs of Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar and Rahim yar Khan districts and other officers and officials of the concerned departments.

While briefing the Law Minister, Commissioner Bahawalpur Division Saqib Zafar said that all arrangements have been finalized to extend municipal services and security cover to as many as 156 Azadari processions and 1410 Azadari Majalis in the 3 districts of Bahawalpur Division. He further said that alternative arrangements to supply un-interrupted electricity have also been made for Majalis-e-Aza and Azadari processions. He maintained that to extend emergency medical aid all medical facilities along-with their ambulances would remain in operation. He further said that as many as 100 beds at Bahawal Victoria Hospital, 50 beds at Shaikh Zaid Hospital Rahim Yar Khan, 30 beds at all the DHQs and 10 beds at all the THQs have also been reserved.

Commissioner also said that arrangements have also been made to ensure the strict implementation of code of conduct and timely completion of Majalis and Azadari processions in the division.

Acting RPO, Bahawalpur Gohar Mushtaq Bhutta in his briefing maintained that to extend security cover to the Azadari Processions a special contingent of 4515 police officials and PQRs would perform their duties during the Ashura Muharram. He further said that to extend security cover to 2808 Azadari Majalis police force of 1235 officials and officers and 2383 PQRs would remain on duty. Provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah appreciated the RPO’s professional competence for detailed and systematic presentation regarding security arrangements in the Bahawalpur division.

Home Secretary Punjab Azam Salman directed the concerned quarters to take effective measures for un-interrupted supply of electricity through generators, to ensure the monitoring of Majalis and Azadari processions through video and CCTV cameras to sharpen the vigil of cable operators, to fully implement the code of conduct and to mobilize all available resources to activate the coordination committees by active participations of the elected representatives.

Inspector General of Police, Mushtaq Ahmad Sukhera urged upon the police officials to further enhance the process of watch and ward and remove the black papers from the vehicles. He further said to beef up security arrangements 2 platoon of Pak Army would also be deployed during Ashura Muharram in Bahawalpur Division.

While addressing the meeting, Provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah directed all stake holders to ensure close peace and harmony during the Ashura Muharram through close and effective inter-departmental co-ordination. He directed the concerned quarters to ensure the monitoring of Category “A” Azadari processions and Majalis through CCTV cameras.