LAHORE: The chief minister on Saturday met with people from different cities at his office and assured them that he will continue standing with the oppressed, issuing on the spot instructions for the resolution of the people’s individual problems.

He said the government would continue its operation against the land-grabber mafia and recover state as well as common people’s land. “The PTI government has begun practical struggle to achieve its vision of helping the poor and the downtrodden in society,” he said.

Mr Buzdar said the people of Punjab were “my asset” and the resolution of their problems would remain his first priority. “My mission is to serve the public and resolve their problems,” he said.

A handout stated the chief minister personally went to meet every individual visiting his secretariat, shook hands and listened to his or her problems. He said that he would keep in touch with the people and serve the masses according to the Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision of Naya Pakistan.

People present on the occasion said the chief minister had deep desire to resolve the public issues. “We could not even think of visiting the chief minister office in the past,” a visitor said. The chief minister, in the meantime, also took notice of the killing of a youngster by a Dolphin Force personnel and sought a report from the Punjab IG.

Mr Buzdar has been conspicuous by his silence during the law and order situation that had been prevailing in the province after Aasia Bibi’s acquittal in a blasphemy case.

The baton-wielding protesters set ablaze public and private vehicles, looted shops and injured several people causing fear and harassment. The electronic and social media also reported some deaths during the protest. The Additional IG Punjab reported that some 50 policemen were also injured during the agitation spanning three days.

While there was no word from the chief minister about the TLP protests and the negotiations that followed, Mr Buzdar was reportedly presiding over transport department meeting, besides solving individual problems of the people who called on him.

Though he chaired a meeting to review law and order on Friday, there were no clear-cut instructions from him for the law-enforcing agencies.

As Tehreek-i-Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLYR) has distanced itself from the TLP-government agreement and is continuing with its sit-in outside Data Darbar, neither the chief minister office, nor the law minister or any other government functionary came forward to speak on the subject.

Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2018