LAHORE - Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif has said that peace and sectarian harmony will be strictly maintained during Muharramul Harram. Addressing the Cabinet Committee meeting held to review security and other administrative arrangements during the Muharram at Chief Ministers Secretariat here Wednesday, the chief minister said the government would take all possible steps to ensure security during Muharram and expressed the hope that with the cooperation of ulema and by virtue of strict security measures, like previous year, this year too the Muharram would remain fully peaceful. He warned the police and administrative officers against any negligence about the security and directed them to act strictly against those who foment sectarian disharmony and hatred through words and literature, or wall chalking and undertake crackdown against those who indulged in the misuse of loudspeakers. The chief minister said for the convenience of the public, ban on pillion has been cut down from five to three days from 8 to 10th Muharramul Harram. The meeting was attended by Senior Adviser to CM, Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa, Senior Minister Raja Riaz Ahmad, Provincial Minister, Rana Sana Ullah Khan, Chairman Mutahidda Ulama Board, Sahibzada Fazal Karim, Senator Pervez Rashid, MPAs Col (r) Shuja Khanzada and Maj (r) Abdul Rahman, Chief Secretary Punjab, Inspector General of Police, and Home Secretary also attended the meeting. Addressing the meeting chief minister said protection to the life and property of the people is the top most priority of the government and in the course of discharging this responsibility, he added, every possible means would be employed. He said the government would press into service every means to ensure law and order and peace throughout the province. He said enemies were active against Pakistan to destabilise this country but we all were alert to the situation and united to counter the evil designs of the anti-state elements. The chief Minister appreciated performance of the committee set up under the chairmanship of Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khosa to maintain peace and law and order during Muharram and said, besides this committee special committees headed by parliamentarians have also been set up to take care of the security matters in their respective constituencies. He also asked the parliamentarians to conduct surprise inspection raids to know the security situation and inform the main committee if they notice any wrong. Exempting the members of the Cabinet Committee from the responsibilities other than those for maintaining law and order, the CM said, the helicopter service would be also available to the Committee for the purpose of monitoring peace situation in the far-flung areas of the province. He directed the Regional Police Officers to personally supervise and maintain security and keep the Cabinet Committee abreast of their duties in this regard.