LAHORE - Lahore DIG (Operations) Dr Haider Ashraf has directed the police to intensify armed patrolling across the provincial metropolis particularly around religious places, markets, and shopping centers.
The field officers were also ordered to deploy additional police force around banks and shops to maintain law and order situation ahead of Eidul Fitr.
The police operations chief issued these directives while presiding over a meeting held at the police headquarters on Saturday. He also reviewed in detail the crimes and law and order situation in the City and Sadar police divisions. SP Zahid Nawaz, SP Asad Sarfraz, DSPs, and SHOs of the both the police divisions were also present on this occasion.
Addressing the field officers, the DIG said there would be zero-tolerance against street crimes and crime burking. The police stations are equipped with latest model vehicles, therefore the policemen must step up clampdown on proclaimed offenders and targeted offenders, he ordered.
The DIG took to task several station house officers (SHOs) as they joined him in the Police Headquarters to discuss crime fighting strategies besides reviewing the overall law and order situation in the city, official sources said. The operations police chief warned if the SHOs did not improve their performance within 15 days, he would not hesitate to suspend or remove them from service.
On this occasion, Haider Ashraf directed all the field police officers to improve their performance regarding arrests of hardened criminals and street criminals. Otherwise, strict disciplinary action would be taken against the police officers who failed to control street crimes particularly auto-theft in their jurisdiction, he warned.
Taking notice of sudden rise in street crimes, the DIG also admonished several SHOs and directed them to leave no stone unturned to come up to the expectations of the people. He also issued show-cause notices to the SHOs of Islampura, Gowalmandi, New Anarkali, Bhati Gate, Data Darbar, Shadbagh, Misri Shah, Hanjarwal, Raiwind, Satu Katla, and Nawab Town police stations.
Meanwhile, police sources said at least 12,000 policemen would remain on guard in the provincial metropolis to maintain law and order during Eid holidays. The police have also stepped up snap-checking at all the seven entry and exit points of Lahore. Leaves of all policemen serving in Lahore are already cancelled because of security duties.
A police spokesperson said a comprehensive security plan has been put into practice to ensure foolproof security during Eid days. The security plan was devised keeping in view threat alerts, he added.