LAHORE:Central Punjab PPP President Raja Pervez Ashraf has expressed his grief over the martyrdom of 14 police personnel in the attack of outlaws in Rahim Yar Khan’s riverine area.

Expressing his solidarity with the families of the martyrs, the former prime minister demanded better treatment for the injured personnel.

He said that he was concerned about the incident and condemned it. Lauding the sacrifices of Punjab police officers and men in the line of duty, he said that controlling law and order situation is the responsibility of the provincial government and it must not show any leniency towards the criminals.

He said that the incident should be investigated and a grand operation should be conducted against the outlaws so that the blood of the martyred soldiers of the Punjab Police should not go in vain.

The criminals must be brought to justice soon, he demanded.

PTI: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Punjab Information Secretary Shaukat Basra has expressed condolences for the martyrdom of several policemen in a rocket-launcher attack on a police vehicle in Machka on Thursday.

In a tweet on Friday, Mr Basra stated that the PTI stands with the bereaved families and prayed for the early recovery of the injured policemen.

In another tweet, Mr. Basra criticised the incumbent inspector general of police, alleging that the morale of the force had been lowered by offering a police uniform to “TikTok chief minister” Maryam Safdar.

He claimed that Punjab had been left vulnerable to dacoits, adding, “When the police stop serving the chief minister personally, they will become independent.”

He accused the government of misusing the police force for political purposes, stating that while dacoits armed with rocket launchers roamed freely, the chief minister was using police to raid the homes of PTI leaders and workers.

Mr Basra stressed that the “Form-47 fake chief minister” should focus on maintaining peace in the province.

He lamented while the police were busy suppressing PTI’s public meeting, 11 policemen were gunned down in Rahim Yar Khan, leaving dozens injured.

“The use of police for a political agenda has destroyed the institution,” he added.

Published in Dawn, August 24th, 2024