LAHORE: The Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) has come up with suggestions for elimination of terrorism and extremism from the country and asked the Punjab government to upgrade its security system and remove flaws for quick results.

The proposals were finalised at a meeting chaired by central president Dr Raheeq Abbasi and attended by secretary general Khurram Nawaz Gandapur, media adviser Noorullah Siddqui and others.

The suggestions include training of police personnel by the army setting a similar physical fitness standard for officers and jawans, fortifying walls and gates of the schools, establishing police check-points at inter-district level and improving the patrolling system as well as recruitment to augment the police force.

The funds allocated for Yellow Cab, Ashiyana Housing and laptop schemes should be diverted towards the police to upgrade the force’s arsenal and vehicles.

The proclaimed offenders involved in heinous crimes should be arrested and a separate force should be instituted to deal with such criminals as part of the national war against terror.

All police officials found involved in heinous crimes should be awarded punishment and removed from their present assignments to bring the discipline within the force on a par with the army, making all postings, transfers and recruitment on merit. Even the chief minister should not be empowered to recommend changes in the postings and transfers, it said.

The criminals should be awarded punishment according to law and in a speedy manner without accepting any influence or pressure. For the purpose, services of learned lawyers and former judges should be utilised.

Local elections should be held forthwith to form committees at the union council level to keep an eye on suspicious people in the areas, the PAT suggested.

Published in Dawn, December 26th, 2014