LAHORE, April 18: A meeting of the capital city police’s operations wing with DIG Rao Sardar Ali Khan in the chair on Monday mulled combating crime in the provincial metropolis on scientific lines, Dawn has learnt.The performance of six divisions was discussed in the light of statistics and the DIG expressed his serious concerns over the rising number of crime incidents and directed the SPs to improve their performance.
The Monday’s meeting was called after a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif a few days ago where the provincial chief executive had expressed concerns over deteriorating law and order situation in Lahore.
Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif reportedly reprimanded the CCPO, the DIG and SPs of city divisions on the robbery-cum-murder of a watchman and a few robberies in a congested bazaar of Naulakha area in short span of one month, sources told Dawn.
They said the CM told the police high-ups to improve their performance forthwith.
After reviewing the statistics, the DIG noted that there was sharp increase of crime incidents in Sadar, Iqbal Town and Civil Lines police divisions. The DIG, however, showed little satisfaction over the performance of the City division where there wasa decline in dacoity, car snatching and street crime incidents.
The DIG directed all the field officers to launch crackdown on proclaimed offenders and court absconders and identify crime pockets by involving community members.
Showing disappointment over patrolling, the DIG told the SPs to improve the system that could be instrumental in curbing the crime. He also told them to monitor the performance of station house officers.
The DIG conveyed the chief minister’s directives to the SPs that all the police officers must address the grievances of the masses and treat them gently.
DIG also conveyed the chief minister’s observation that incidents of police’s highhandedness with the people were a hurdle in transforming ‘thana culture’. – MUHAMMAD FAISAL ALI
police-plan-to-combat-crime-on-scientific-lines-2