Shahbaz Taseer poses for a photograph during a family function in Lahore in this August 8, 2009 file photo. — Photo by Reuters

LAHORE: Pakistan People's Party Punjab President Imtiaz Safdar Warraich on Saturday said that a protest movement will be launched against the Punjab government from Monday if Shahbaz Taseer, son of the slain Punjab governor Salman Taseer is not recovered.

Addressing a press conference at PPP Punjab office here, he said that protest rallies would be organised at district level to press for the recovery of Shahbaz Taseer.

Condemning the incident, he said that it has disturbed all citizens of the province.

The poor situation of crime and law and order in Punjab is now clear to all, he added.

He said that Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif should improve the situation of law and order in his “own province” and then talk about other provinces.

Warraich said that Lahore is the capital of the province and has headquarters of the Punjab Police but no progress could be made in the case of Shahbaz Taseer so far.

Presenting crime figures in the province, he said that in 2010, 75,419 crime cases were registered and 627 among them were murder cases. As many as 170 rape and 160 cases of torture against government servants had been registered last year.

He said that so far almost 13,497 cases of kidnap were registered — 2,176 of Lahore city alone.

He said 8,974 cases of kidnap for ransom were registered during the current year.

He said the crime ratio in Punjab had increased by 30 per cent, adding that the leadership of the PML-N cannot make tall claims of “good governance” in the province in the given situation.

Responding to a question regarding suo motu action on the abduction incident, he said that courts were independent to take notice.

He said that Raja Riaz, opposition leader in Punjab Assembly, would submit session requisition after Monday on the issue, adding that all constitutional options would be adopted.

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