LAHORE: The chief minister had directed the DSPs and DPOs to submit affidavits that there were no torture cells within their respective jurisdictions, said his spokesman Dr Shahbaz Gill.

“FIRs will be lodged against the DSPs and DPOs if any torture incident surfaces or a torture cell is found,” he quoted the CM as issuing warning.

A complaint box for public would also be installed outside police stations and the keys would be with the DPOs or RPOs to assess public problems.

Criticising former chief minister Shahbaz Sharif, he said “the dramaybaz would have reformed the police if it was an easy task.” There was the biggest ratio of fake FIRs in Punjab, he added.

Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, he claimed that it would take time to reform the police as Prime Minister Imran Khan had promised that he would do sop just as he did in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa within two and-a-half years.

To begin with, Dr Gill said, the prime minister had given a clear message that torture by policemen would not be tolerated. He said the chief minister had also expressed his wish to constitute an independent board that would have representation from media and people from other walks of life to investigate excesses committed by police.

Responding to criticism on Usman Buzdar’s appointment as chief minister, Dr Gill said the PTI was governed by the ideology of Imran Khan and he earned people’s votes after 22 years of struggle and it was his decision to appoint Mr Buzdar as chief minister. “Those who don’t like him, should leave the party,” he said.

Answering a question about tussle with information minister Mian Aslam Iqbal, Dr Gill said he was not interested in continuing as chief minister’s spokesman. “If it is my leader’s order, then I will have to perform this duty willingly or unwillingly,” he said.

He said Aslam Iqbal was performing his duties and he had no issue with him.

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2019