LAHORE, Dec 10: The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) says Punjab has become a “police state” and no section of society is safe from their brutality.

“Be it teachers, doctors, lawyers, journalists or students the police do not allow their peaceful demonstrations at the behest of the chief minister,” Punjab PPP President Imtiaz Safdar Warraich said while condemning the police torture of teachers and students who gathered outside the assembly a couple of days ago to protest against the government's proposed plan of privatising 26 colleges in the province.

At a press conference after a meeting of Punjab PPP executives here on Friday, Warraich said the police should be directed to concentrate on improving the law and order situation in the province.

Flanked by Raja Riaz, Samiullah Khan, Dr Fakhruddin and Usman Malik, Mr Warraich, who is also a state minister, demanded that the release of development funds to administrators should be stopped till the new local body system was installed. He said the Punjab government should hold local body elections without any delay.

About arrangements regarding the holding of third anniversary of Benazir Bhutto, Mr Warraich said caravans from Punjab would leave for Ghari Khuda Bakhsh on Dec 26.

He said the party reorganisation would begin after the anniversary of Ms Bhutto.

Earlier, the meeting discussed various steps to improve the party position in Punjab. Some office-bearers were of the view that the party could not do well till redressing the grievances of the workers.

BADR: PPP Secretary-General Jehangir Badr has also condemned the police torture of students and teachers and said Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has become a “dictator”.

At a press conference here on Friday, he opposed 'privatisation' of colleges saying the decision would result in fee rise and it was a conspiracy to deprive the poor students of education.

He said if the decision would not be taken back all segments of society would join the teachers and society in the protest.