GILGIT, Jan 20: Participants of a multi- party conference held here on Thursday blamed the police department for poor law and order situation and urged the government to take steps for deweaponisation of Gilgit city.

The conference was chaired by Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Syed Mehdi Shah and attended by representative of nine political parties.

Speaking to media persons, education minister Ali Madad Sher said that the parliamentary committee formed for overseeing steps for maintenance of peace would be strengthened. He said that the committee was mandated to consult people at grassroots level and induct members from all 22 wards of the municipality.

He said that Chief Minister Syed Mehdi Shah had directed the administration to ensure maintenance of law and order and take steps for arresting anti-social elements. He said that the conference appreciated the former jirga and said that the administration would keep close liaison with the committee. He said that show of weapons was strictly banned and those indulging in such activities would be punished.

The minister disclosed that police personnel would be retrieved from those areas of Gilgit-Baltistan where crime rate was low. He said that of total 1,548 crime incidents 750 were recorded in Gilgit district.

Mr Sher said that the matter to increase the strength of police in Gilgit would be taken up in the next cabinet meeting. He said that police pickets were being set up in sensitive localities of the town. He said that the government would provide security to people and culture of employing private security guards would be discouraged.

The minister said that the meeting was told by the IGP that 99 people were arrested in various militancy-related cases and 51 accused were still at large.

Mr Sher said that the chief minister would hold meetings with representatives of all sects to take them on board on an operation to be launched against criminals soon.