LAHORE, Feb 23: The Punjab Assembly was told on Monday that public safety commissions had been constituted in 31 districts of the province while the process for the completion of remaining ones was in progress.

Punjab Law Minister Basharat Raja said this while responding to a point of order raised by an opposition member, Rana Aftab Ahmad Khan. The minister said the provincial public safety commission could not be formed as the Lahore High Court chief justice had declined chairmanship of the commission.

He expressed the hope that the chief justice would send his nominee to chair the body which would constitute the provincial public safety commission soon.

He offered the opposition to hold a dialogue with the treasury on devolution plan and the Police Order, 2002, and assured that the government would properly consider these proposals.

Earlier, Rana Aftab said the public safety commissions were the only check on the police after the implementation of the Police Order, 2002. Responding to a point of order raised by a member from the opposition, the law minister said district police officers across the Punjab had been directed to intensify security arrangements for judges.

He said an inquiry regarding a lapse in the security of Justice Khwaja Sharif was in progress and responsible persons would be taken to task. The minister said the accused in the murder case of a six-year-old girl of Chak 212, Vehari, had been arrested, and they would be produced before the special court after completion of a chargesheet. -APP