LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Tuesday Sharif presided over a high level meeting, which reviewed the progress made so far on cases pertaining to incidents of crimes including the murder of five people in Millat Park, robbery in a vehicle at traffic signal in Garden Town and futile attempt of robbery at Lower Mall.
Police authorities presented preliminary report in this regard. Shahbaz expressed indignation over the incidents of crime in the city like Lahore and said that incidents like murder of five people on putting up resistance during robbery at Millat Park and robbery in a vehicle at traffic signal in Garden Town posed a question mark on the performance of police.
Addressing the police officials, the chief minister said that resources of billions of rupees have been provided to the police and likewise the department has been equipped with training and modern equipments, so that it could perform its duty in an efficient manner for maintenance of law and order and protection of life and property of people. “Despite all resources and training, repeated occurrence of such incidents is deplorable,” he added.
He asked the concerned police officers to tell where the Dolphin Squad and Police Response Unit officers were at the time of these incidents. “What was the system of patrolling in the area?” he questioned.
He said that such incidents of crime could not be tolerated at all, especially when all resources were made available to the police. Shahbaz said that police would have to play an active and vibrant role to safeguard the lives and properties of masses. He said that matters could not run in this manner and he would not tolerate such incidents at any cost.
The chief minister ordered the police authorities to arrest the accused involved in these incidents within 72 hours. Shahbaz said that he is servant of the people of the province and responsible for the protection of their lives and properties, adding that he would go to any extent for this purpose.
He said that police should ensure eradication of crime from the province and take strict action against the accused involved in criminal activities. The accused involved in these incidents would be brought to justice and deterrent punishment would be awarded to them as per law.
He said that there was no priority other than establishment of law and order, which is why billions of rupees have been spent for setting police department on modern lines. He said that police would have to perform its duties in an active, vibrant and effective manner for checking street crime and to live up to the expectations of people.
The chief minister said that he would not be satisfied with mere lip service, but with the performance of police, that too, only when people would express satisfaction over its performance. “This will be possible only when the police will perform its duties efficiently and with hard work,” he concluded.
Inspector General of Police Mushtaq Ahmed Sukhera, CCPO Lahore Amin Wains, DIG Operations Dr Ashraf Haider, home secretary, additional inspector general, DIG investigation and SSP investigation were present on the occasion.
