Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has given the provincial police four weeks to improve law and order, with particular attention to crimes against women and children. She warned that officers concerned would be removed if the situation does not improve. The directive was issued at a special meeting on Thursday, October 22, attended by regional police officers and district police officers through video link.
Directives to police
The Chief Minister said she was concerned about the security situation in Rawalpindi Division. She told police to step up action against serious crimes, corruption within the force and the illegal possession of weapons. Police were also told to carry out preventive action and recoveries against people holding illegal weapons, and to enforce strictly the ban on camera-equipped glasses and other surveillance devices.
Traffic management drew her criticism, and she asked police to act against over-speeding. She ordered an anti-corruption campaign inside the department, with strict action against personnel found in corrupt practices. Police were directed to stop wheat smuggling from all districts, particularly along provincial borders.
She ordered visible police patrolling across the province to create a sense of fear of the law among criminals. Regional police officers were told to hold weekly meetings to review every category of crime and to submit performance reports on the relevant district police officers. A crackdown on narcotics, the identification of crime hotspots and the dismantling of criminal networks were also ordered, along with a warning that there would be no tolerance for hooliganism.
The Chief Minister praised the specialised RMC police force for its performance during the proposed sit-in and ordered continued capacity building of the unit to handle crowds. She paid tribute to police personnel who lost their lives on duty and directed lifetime salaries and financial packages for their families. Maryam Nawaz also asked for stronger patrolling by the Dolphin Force in Lahore, with motorcycles and other facilities.
Crime figures in the briefing
The Inspector General of Police Punjab, the province's top police officer, briefed the meeting on the overall security situation, including an incident in Multan and other serious crimes. The briefing said the province had seen a declining trend in crime. According to the briefing, crime in Lahore fell by 41 percent and the Dera Ghazi Khan Region recorded a 16 percent reduction.
Larger falls were reported in the Gujranwala Region (67 percent), the Gujrat Region (58 percent), the Bahawalpur Region (52 percent) and the Multan Region (47 percent). Crime in the Rawalpindi Region was reported down 36 percent, even as the Chief Minister raised concern about Rawalpindi Division. These are police figures presented at the meeting and have not been independently verified.
What happens next
The four-week period runs from the meeting, and the Chief Minister has said officers would be removed if conditions do not improve. In the meantime, regional police officers are to hold weekly reviews of crime and submit reports on district police officers. Whether crimes against women and children fall will be the main test of the directive.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Punjab mein Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz ne police ko chaar hafton ka waqt diya hai ke law and order behtar ho, khaas tor par khawateen aur bachon ke khilaf jurm. Kaam behtar na hua to officers ko hata diya jaye ga. Speeding, illegal hathyaron aur smuggling par bhi sakhti hogi, aur police ki gashat barhae gi. Aap ki hifazat ke liye yeh faisla ahem hai, aur nateeja aap apne ilaqe mein dekh sakein ge.
