LAHORE – At least 100 police encounters took place across the Punjab province in which no less than 20 police officers/officials were martyred during the past five months.
The police are implementing aggressive and preventive policing strategies as per the vision of the Chief Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif due to which the overall crimes rate particularly heinous crimes like robberies and dacoities are declining sharply throughout the province especially in Multan, Bahawalpur and DG Khan Regions.
According to an official handout issued on Wednesday, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Punjab Muhammad Habib-ur-Rehman stated this while addressing the police officers during his visits to Multan, Bahawalpur and DG Khan Regions.
A police spokesperson while quoting the IGP further said that high-level negotiations are underway to bring the Border Military Police Force under the administrative control of the Punjab police in the border regions of the province. The IGP said that the police officials/officers who have closed their doors for the general public would be taken to task.
The investigation wing of the police is being provided modern and state-of-the-art technology and a forensic laboratory would be set up in each Regional Police Headquarters so that the professional and organised criminals could be tracked down in effective manner. The police chief also informed that due to the examination through the forensic lab, the police managed to unearth the culprits involved in the Fort Minro incident. The IGP also reviewed security arrangements for the holy month of Ramazan in Multan, Bahawalpur and DG Khan Regions and directed the police to hire the services volunteers and private security agencies in case of staff shortage. He stressed upon the officers to leave no stone unturned to ensure foolproof security for the people during the holy month so that they would perform their religious obligations without any fear.
In order to meet the challenges of terrorism, the IGP directed the police to step up crackdown against terrorists and banned outfits in their respective areas but no policeman would be allowed to create problems for the innocent persons. The IGP also directed the police to prepare the lists of those funding the banned outfits so that strict action could be taken against them.
The police are also directed to ensure the inspection of all hotels, hostels, and religious seminaries on daily basis while the record of rented houses, property dealers, and those involved in rent-a-car business should be maintained properly.
Regional Police Officer (RPO) Multan Mubarak Ali Athar gave detailed briefing to the IGP and informed that the Multan police have successfully arrested a most wanted gang of terrorists. The arrested terrorists are being interrogated. The RPO also informed the IGP about the security arrangements for the by-polls to be held in Multan on Thursday (today). Meanwhile, during his visit to DG Khan, the IGP suspended SHO B-Division police station DG Khan, Inspector Sajjad Hussain, from service and ordered an inquiry against him for flawed investigations into a case. The IGP took action against the officers on the complaint of a woman, who appeared before the IGP and sought justice.