LAHORE: Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz has expressed concerns at the rise in the crime rate in Lahore and other cities and directed police to take necessary steps to ensure law and order.

Presiding over a meeting on law and order here on Thursday, he issued directions for indiscriminate action against the accused involved in heinous crimes.

He said good officers had been deputed in the police department and positive results of the postings would come to the surface soon.

“We would have to chalk out an effective mechanism with regard to awarding reward and punishment in the police department,” the CM suggested and added that the police officers reducing crime graph would be appreciated while those showing poor performance would be held accountable.

Hamza directed the officers to deal with the accused in crimes against women and children with an iron hand.

IGP orders action for making Lahore drug-free

Provincial ministers Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan and Attaullah Tarar, the inspector general of police, additional chief secretary (Home), secretaries concerned and senior officials attended the meeting.

IGP: Inspector General of Police Rao Sardar Ali Khan has assigned the police officers the task of making Lahore ‘a drug-free city’ by formulating a plan with the help of district administration, health department, social welfare and other departments.

He sought steps to rehabilitate the drug addicts seen on the streets and roads of the city.

While chairing a meeting at the Central Police Office to curb drug abuse, the IGP directed the Lahore police to initiate intelligence-based action to control drug smuggling.

“A massive crackdown should be launched on those involved in sale and purchase of modern drugs, ice (meth), sheesha and others in Lahore and other cities,” Mr Khan said, seeking an awareness campaign with cooperation of civil society in hostels, educational institutions and other public places.

He directed all the district police officers to take stern action against the elements involved in drugs.

During the meeting, the IGP was informed Punjab Police had registered 16,966 cases related to the sale of drugs in the province this year while 17,230 accused were arrested. Of them, 2,487 cases were registered in Lahore while 2,505 suspects involved in the crime were arrested in the city.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2022