LAHORE, Feb 4: Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi asked the senior police officers on Tuesday to improve law and order, and check the crime rate within a month, after which he would start taking stock of their performance.

He was speaking at a meeting held here on Tuesday to review the law and order situation in the province.

The chief minister directed the senior police officers to immediately start arresting dangerous criminals and proceed against their harbourers.

Official sources said the chief minister discussed with the senior police officers the reasons for the current wave of crime in the Punjab and asked them to adopt all measures to arrest it.

In future the government would not merely transfer corrupt and inefficient police officers and constables. Rather it would initiate legal proceedings against them, the chief minister said.

The government was providing best available facilities to the policemen. Now it was their responsibility to change their attitude and refrain from showing any dereliction regarding the control of crime, he said.

Sources said the chief minister agreed to a proposal to authorize the DIGs and the SSPs (Operation) to take disciplinary action against DSPs and inspectors so as to regulate their working.

At present, only IGP could take disciplinary action against the DSPs whereas they are under the operational command of the DIGs. Similarly, the authority to take disciplinary action against inspectors lay with the DIGs whereas they are under the operational command of the SSPs (Operation).

Senior police officers told the chief minister that the duality of functions was creating administrative problems, rendering the operational command unable to make the DSPs and inspectors deliver.

Sources said the chief minister agreed to an amendment in the relevant rules for the devolution of the authority, asking the IGP and the home department to initiate the required process.

Pervaiz Elahi said if required, the government would even amend the relevant law to recover illegal weapons and check their penetration into the society.

He ordered the officers to immediately prepare lists of the proclaimed offenders in the province and start arresting them. Those harbouring the criminals would not also be spared however influential they might be, he said.

The chief minister directed the intelligence agencies to keep a constant watch on the hardened criminals, acquitted of charges by the courts.

He directed the establishment of special cells in each district for the arrest of heinous crime, especially kidnapping for ransom. The CM secretariat should be kept informed of the law ad order situation in every district on daily basis, he said.

He said it was the duty of police to respect people and the assembly members approaching them for the redressal of any genuine problem.

The chief minister asked the IGP to immediately make payments to the heirs of the officers and officials killed in the line of duty. Free education and jobs for their children would also be ensured, he said.

He said those showing bravery and extraordinary performance would be given out-of-turn promotions and special fringe benefits.

The chief minister asked the IG to arrange special medical facilities for the officers and officials who have been suffering from cancer and hepatitis.

Chief Secretary Hafeez Akhtar Randhawa, Home Secretary Ejaz Shah, IGP, all additional IGs, DIGs and district police officers attended the meeting.