BAHAWALPUR, Dec 6: The law and order situation in the district was reviewed on Monday at a meeting of the MPs who were especially invited by the local police on the directive of the Punjab chief minister.

Dawn learnt that during the meeting, some of the elected representatives complained of the alleged police high-handedness and negligence on several occasions in their respective areas of the district. On the complaint of MNA Mian Riaz Hussain Peerzada, head constable Khurshid Ahmed was transferred from Khairpur Tamewali police station.

Briefing the elected representatives, DPO Arif Nawaz claimed that the law and order was satisfactory and the crime rate was showing a downward trend. In this connection, the MPs were also provided the details of crime rate since Jan 1, 2004 to Nov 30, 2004 with a comparison of the corresponding period last year.

The crime graph showed that 324 abduction cases were registered since Jan 1 to Nov 30, 2004 against 246 last year. Rape cases graph went high to 59 this year against 56. Besides, 171 robbery cases were filed as compared to last year's 161.

MNAs Mian Riaz Hussain Peerzada, Malik Farooq Azam, federal parliamentary secretaries Makhdoom Syed Gilani and Sardar Malik Amir Yar Warren, MPAs Makhdoom Syed Iftikhar Gilani, Sardar Khalid Mahmood Warren, Muzammil Abbasi, Saifullah Owaisi and others attended the meeting.

WATER SCHEMES: Punjab Public Health Engineering Minister Mushtaq Ahmed Kiyani on Monday inspected the Cholistan water supply project. Cholistan Development Authority Managing-Director Abdul Razaq informed the minister about the four water supply schemes. The MD said the entire project was expected to be completed by Dec 31. The minister expressed his satisfaction over the pace of work.