LAHORE – A high level meeting, presided over by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, on Thursday decided to formulate and implement a comprehensive plan to ensure foolproof security arrangements during Muharram-ul-Haram.
The meeting decided to take stern action, without any discrimination, against the elements making provocative speeches and distributing hate material. Shahbaz issued instructions for activating peace committees throughout the province, as well as adopting special measures for the security of mosques and Imam Bargahs.
The meeting also decided that a Cabinet Committee headed by Senior Adviser Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa would visit all divisions of the province during Ashura-e-Muharram-ul-Haram and submit a report to the chief minister after reviewing the arrangements made for law and order.
Stressing the need for maintaining sectarian harmony, Shahbaz said that Islam teaches us peace and amity. He said that the enemy wanted to destabilise the country and there was a need to foil its evil designs with the force of unity. He directed that a close contact be maintained with Ulema for ensuring law and order, promotion of religious harmony, and creation of an atmosphere of religious brotherhood.
The chief minister directed that a command and control room be set up to monitor the implementation of the security plan. He said that there was a need for close coordination between law enforcement agencies and that they should devise an effective system of intelligence sharing.
Shahbaz said that the ban on misuse of loudspeakers, wall-chalking and display of firearms should be strictly enforced. He further directed that special security arrangements should be made in sensitive districts, while additional force should be deputed at mosques, Imam Bargahs and other religious places.
The chief minister directed the home secretary and the IG Police to set up walk-through gates for the safety of Majalis and mourning processions, while entry should be allowed into these only after checking through metal detectors.
Separately, Shahbaz warned on Thursday that the policemen who impeded the way of justice by accepting bribe or safarish would be dismissed. Talking to complainants from various districts in Model Town, he also passed on-the-spot direction on complaints.
Shahbaz said that provision of justice to the aggrieved was more important than anything and the police officers hindering dispensation of justice had no right to stay in the department. “Bribery and safarish are the main hurdles in the provision of justice and I will not tolerate them,” he added.
Shahbaz also met with Ambassador of Ukraine to Pakistan Volodymyr Lakomov on Thursday. Matters of mutual interest and bilateral relations were discussed in the meeting.
Meanwhile, Shahbaz said on Thursday that corruption cases of ‘Zardari Gang’ were surfacing almost daily. “The inept policies of the rulers have made life of the common people miserable, besides pushing the country into darkness and ruining the economy,” he maintained.
He hoped that the masses would hold the looters accountable through the power of vote in the upcoming general elections, and elect a sincere and committed leadership in the form of PML-N.
(The Nation)
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