LAHORE, April 5: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi said on Wednesday the provincial government was focusing on bringing about sound changes in the police working and the command structure. Speaking to DIGs and DPOs, he asserted that no outsider was being inducted into the police service and any news in this regard was part of a “disinformation campaign”.

The biggest challenge for the government was to improve the working of police and change the thana culture by making it people-friendly. For this purpose, he said, a committee, headed by Law Minister Raja Basharat, had been formed which would submit a report within 15 days.

The government had decided to introduce “patrolling on foot” for controlling street crime and creating a sense of security among the people. The district police officers would patrol their areas of jurisdiction and also remain in constant touch with people.

The chief minister said he was personally monitoring the crime situation in the province and had already warned officers against providing misleading statistics. “No responsible officer should provide wrong figures as, by doing so, he not only conceals the factual position, but also hinders the reform process,” he said.

He expressed his dissatisfaction over the medico-legal system, and said it needed fundamental changes in order to make it more transparent. After the changes the government was contemplating, no-one would be able to get the desired results.

The crime rate, according to the chief minister, had dropped by 30 to 40 per cent in the areas where police patrol posts had been established. “This is a success of the Punjab police.”

He also claimed that the incidence of animal theft had dropped after the police drive which must, however, be continued in the same spirit. About vehicle theft, he said only arrests of thieves were not enough but the vehicles should be recovered. He said the police must also maintain close contact with other provinces.

The chief minister expressed concern about the police stations working in tents in different parts of the province. They should soon be shifted to proper buildings, he said, also ordering the removal of unnecessary pickets and double-shift system for police in major cities like Lahore and Faisalabad.

Earlier, law minister Raja Basharat gave a presentation on the newly-created department of prosecution. The government would not succeed in maintaining law and order without punishing the culprits, he said.

IGP Ziaul Hassan presented a detailed presentation on the crime situation and working of police in the province. He claimed that during 2005-06, the police resolved 85 per cent cases of kidnap for ransom and also bust 1,820 gangs.