Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has given police officers four weeks to improve the overall law and order situation, particularly crimes against women and children, warning that officers concerned would be removed if the situation failed to improve.
Chairing a special meeting on law and order, here on Thursday, attended by regional police officers (RPOs) and district police officers (DPOs) through video link, the chief minister expressed serious concern over crimes against women and children and sought detailed briefings on the security situation in every division and district.
She directed police to intensify action against corruption within the department and take strict action against officials involved in corrupt practices. She also ordered effective measures to stop wheat smuggling in all districts, particularly areas along provincial borders.
Expressing dissatisfaction with traffic management, the chief minister directed police to ensure strict action against over speeding. She also ordered proactive operations against illegal weapons and directed authorities to ensure a ban on camera-equipped glasses and other surveillance devices.
CM Maryam Nawaz ordered visible police patrolling throughout the province to create a sense of security among citizens and deter criminal elements. She directed police officers to personally contact the organizers of the Tablighi congregation and ordered the provision of motorcycles and other facilities to the Dolphin Force in Lahore to improve patrolling.
Expressing concern over the law and order situation in Rawalpindi Division, she directed all RPOs to hold weekly meetings to review crimes of all categories and submit reports on the performance of the relevant DPOs. She also received detailed briefings on every serious crime, including the Multan incident.
The CM said there would be no tolerance for the culture of lawlessness and no concessions for those involved in criminal activities. She directed police to ensure an effective crackdown on drugs, identify crime hotspots and dismantle criminal networks. She also ordered continued capacity-building of the specialized RMC police force deployed to deal with crowds and appreciated its performance during duty in connection with the proposed sit-in.
Paying tribute to police personnel who lost their lives while performing their duties, Maryam Nawaz directed the provision of lifetime salaries and financial packages to the families of martyred police officers.
Inspector General of Police Punjab briefed the meeting on the overall law and order situation, stating that the province had witnessed a declining trend in crime.
According to the briefing, crime in Lahore had decreased by 41 per cent, while the Dera Ghazi Khan Region recorded a 16 per cent reduction. District-wise figures showed a 27 per cent decline in Kot Addu, seven per cent in Rajanpur, 25 per cent in Layyah, nine per cent in Dera Ghazi Khan and 25 per cent in Muzaffargarh.
The Bahawalpur Region recorded a 52 per cent reduction in crime, while crime in Rahim Yar Khan district declined by 50 per cent.
The briefing further stated that crime had decreased by 32 per cent in the Sheikhupura Region, including 32 per cent in Kasur, 19 per cent in Nankana Sahib and 31 per cent in Sheikhupura district.
The Multan Region registered an overall 47 per cent decline, with reductions of 50 per cent in Vehari, 30 per cent in Lodhran, 40 per cent in Khanewal and 49 per cent in Multan district.
In Rawalpindi Region, crime decreased by 36 per cent, including 42 per cent in Rawalpindi, 38 per cent in Jhelum, nine per cent in Attock, 10 per cent in Chakwal and 17 per cent in Murree. The Sahiwal Region recorded a 42 per cent reduction, with crime declining by 45 per cent in Okara, 39 per cent in Sahiwal and 43 per cent in Pakpattan.
The Gujranwala Region reported a 67 per cent decline, including 57 per cent in Sialkot, 54 per cent in Narowal and 73 per cent in Gujranwala district.
The Gujrat Region recorded a 58 per cent reduction in crime, with declines of 67 per cent in Wazirabad, 51 per cent in Mandi Bahauddin, 56 per cent in Gujrat and 55 per cent in Hafizabad. The meeting was also informed that the mobile police station project had provided 9,702 services to citizens.