13 January 2004	Tuesday	20 Ziqa'ad 1424

LAHORE, Jan 12: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi says the recent reshuffle in the Punjab police has been made to improve law and order situation, especially robberies, in the Punjab.

He told reporters in his chamber at the Punjab Assembly on Monday that the police officers who had been given new responsibilities had been directed to launch a crackdown against law-breakers.

"They have been given a target and they know that what will happen if the target is not achieved," the chief minister warned. About allowing kite-flying for one month in the province, he said it should be taken as a game. But he warned that those who would violate the law and involve in hooliganism would be taken to task.

Mr Elahi said the Jashn-i-Baharan would be celebrated in the Punjab as usual and dignitaries from abroad would be invited to the event where folk games and a Punjabi mushaira would also be held.

He said a formal request had been submitted with the foreign ministry to invite any head of state to the fair as the president, the prime minister and chief minister of other provinces would be chief guests in its various events.

Regarding bribery complaints while making new recruitments in the province, he said a committee had been formed to probe the affair which would submit its report within a couple of days.

He parried the question that if "blackmailing" by the PPP-Patriots had lessened after the government-MMA deal, saying: "Let's see what happens next."