LAHORE - MNA Saeed Ahmad Manais and Special Education Minister Asif Saeed Manais called on Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif yesterday.
Speaking on the occasion, the CM said that Pakistan has been put on the road to progress and prosperity under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
He said people reposed trust in the leadership of Pakistan Muslim League-N in the first phase of local bodies’ elections and have authenticated the results of general elections of 2013.
He said the journey of progress and development will continue. The CM said people have given vote to public service, honesty and hard work in the local bodies’ elections and rejected the politics of lies and allegations.
He said serious efforts are being made under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif for coping with the challenges faced by the country. He said that PML-N government will set new records of public service. He said that Pakistan today is more safe, peaceful and developed than of 2013 and new targets of development will be achieved during next two and a half years.
A meeting under CM Shhhbaz decided to depute Rangers at sensitive polling stations. The second of elections for local bodies was scheduled in 12 districts of Punjab on November 19.
Addressing the meeting, the CM directed that peaceful conduct of second phase of local bodies elections in 12 districts of the province should be ensured at any cost and police and administration should perform their duties efficiently.
He said police will have to play an active role for the implementation of the law.
He said that the holding of the second phase of local bodies’ elections in a peaceful atmosphere is a national obligation and it is prime responsibility of police and administration to ensure supremacy of law and justice. He said police and administrative officers should utilize all their energies for maintaining law and order on the polling day and security measures should be taken in advance for ensuring peace.
He said that those resorting to firing to celebrate victory in election should be in jail and police should deal with such elements with an iron hand. He said that no one can be permitted to take the law in his hands and all citizens are equal before the law.
Shahbaz directed that ban on display and carrying of weapons should be strictly implemented and indiscriminate action should also be taken against carrying of licensed weapons as strict implementation of the law in this regard is essential for maintaining peace.
The CM said that licensed weapons of the candidates contesting local bodies elections should be deposited with the police stations and licenses of such local bodies candidates who do not deposit their weapons should be cancelled.
He further said ban on taking out of processions or rallies and aerial firing to celebrate victory should be strictly implemented and in case of violation, action should be taken irrespective of political affiliation of the candidate. He directed that the security plan evolved for this purpose should be strictly implemented and no effort should be spared for the conduct of second phase of local bodies elections in a peaceful atmosphere.
The CM said that effective implementation of foolproof security arrangements should be ensured for maintaining law and order in the second phase of local bodies’ elections and warned that violation of law will not be tolerated. He said that administrative and police officers showing good performance will be encouraged. He said that a vigorous crackdown should be launched against miscreants. The meeting was informed that the ban on display and carrying of weapons imposed in the province under Section 144 will also apply to licensed weapons.
He said that there is also a ban on taking out of rallies and processions and aerial firing for celebrating victory.
He said that there will be restriction on the gathering of five or more than five persons near polling stations in the second phase of local bodies’ elections in 12 districts and on the polling day five or more than five persons will not be allowed to gather within a limit of 300 meters around polling stations.