LAHORE – Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said the Punjab government had decided to recruit 4,000 ex-servicemen on contract basis to maintain law and order in the provincial capital.
Presiding over a meeting to review security on Tuesday, the chief minister said these retired armymen would perform their duties in coordination with the police to control street crime in the City. He directed the home secretary to immediately initiate the recruiting process.
Giving approval to recruitment of ex-servicemen on contract basis, Shahbaz told the meeting that effective control of street crime was of utmost importance, for which the government would benefit from the services of retired armymen.
He further directed establishment of Anti-Crime Helpline for immediate redress of public complaints against crimes. He directed that a report be submitted to him about the helpline model, within seven days in consultation with the Punjab Information Technology Board chairman.
The chief minister said prosecution process of arrested criminals involved in various cases be further expedited and cases be submitted to the relevant courts so that the culprits could be awarded timely punishment. He directed police to chalk out a comprehensive strategy to deal with the old cases, and ordered the IGP and CCPO to submit detailed progress report.
Shahbaz also directed police authorities to make comprehensive planning to effectively control the incidents of extortion, throughout the province. He said the dream of a peaceful society could not be realised, without eradication of extremism, for which the police ought to play its vigorous role. He directed the parliamentarians to review the performance of police stations and submit a report to him in this regard.
The chief minister also directed police authorities to ensure prompt registration of FIRs of all cases, along with informing the complainants regarding progress made on their FIRs. He also issued instructions for activating the Citizen Police Liaison Committee.
“All possible steps are being taken to improve law and order situation in the province. Police will have to play its role to provide succor to the masses,” Shahbaz held. He said protection of life and property of the citizens was his foremost priority, and he would fulfill his responsibility at all costs.
He said police had been provided all kinds of resources; therefore, it must produce results. He said betterment at the lower level in police was need of the hour to bring about a positive change in Thana culture. He said only registration of cases was not enough and effective follow-up in courts should also be ensured.
MPA Shuja Khanzada informed the chief minister that the process of imparting training to the police officers, in cooperation with brotherly Islamic country Turkey, was continuing, and more officers would visit Turkey for necessary training during the next month.
Also, Shahbaz Sharif said revolutionary transformation in the transport sector would come about following the completion of metro bus system which was a great public service project in the history of the country. He said metro bus service would provide speedy, comfortable and affordable transport to the citizens.
Chairing a meeting held with regard to the metro bus service project, Shahbaz said work of construction of metro bus service over 32-KM long track from Gajumata to Shahdara was continuing, while an 8-KM long flyover, the longest in South Asia, was being constructed.