LAHORE: Robbers held up PML-N MPA Inamullah Khan Niazi on The Mall on Thursday and deprived him of cash and a mobile phone.

Police said the MPA stopped at a traffic signal at Club Chowk on The Mall when a motorcyclist held him up and snatched Rs15,000 and a mobile phone before fleeing the scene.

Mr Niazi called 15 police helpline and Civil Lines DSP Ali Raza reached the spot and inquired about the incident. Later, the Racecourse police registered a case.

DIG (Operations) Dr Haider Ashraf directed the SP to arrest the gangster within a day.

There seems a surge in street and highway robberies in Lahore in the last few days and the police have proved unequal to the task. The police claim they have taken measures such as launching the Dolphin Force and prior to that the Police Response Unit to patrol roads and curb crime but a lot remains to be desired.

CM Shahbaz Sharif, while heading a law and order meeting a few days ago, took exception to the performance of the Dolphin Force.

Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2016