LAHORE–Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif asked the police on Tuesday to give him results now as they had been given enough in the shape of salaries and other benefits.
“The police department has been purged of political interference. All postings are being made purely on merit and performance,” Shahbaz Sharif said while presiding over a meeting at the Civil Secretariat here. It reviewed the law and order situation in the provincial metropolis.
Advisor Jehanzeb Barki, MPAs Mohsin Latif, Hafiz Mian Muhammad Nauman, Ramzan Siddique Bhatti, Prosecutor General, Ashtar Ausaf Ali Home Secretary, Secretary Law, CCPO, DIG Investigation & Operations, Commissioner and DCO Lahore and all divisional SPs of Lahore also attended the meeting.
“After providing facilities and eliminating the Sifarish culture, now it is responsibility of the police to give results and fulfil their responsibilities towards the law and order and protecting life and property of the masses,” he said and warned that the police officers neglecting their duties towards curbing crimes and protecting life and property of the people will not be tolerated in police force at any cost.
The CM directed to constitute a high level committee to evolve a short and middle term strategy for improving the performance of police and submit its recommendations within two days. He said that the model evolved for Lahore will be replicated in other districts of the province.
The CM said that despite limited financial resources, salaries of police have been enhanced and necessary facilities provided so that they could perform their duties properly and effectively to maintain law and order and root out crimes.
He said the IG police and the CCPO were considered the best officers and the latter “has been given a free hand regarding postings of divisional SPs.” He said the Lahore police were a model to be emulated by the entire force. The CM said that he has decided to review the performance of police himself and the present meeting was its beginning.
He assured that all possible resources would be provided to Lahore police for curbing crimes and maintaining law and order but yielding results will be its responsibility.
He directed that such divisional SPs should be posted in Lahore who, besides being honest should also have the spirit of public service and having professional capabilities. He said that blessings of Almighty Allah can be earned by providing justice to the common and poor people and the same should be the duty of police force.
He said that there is always room for improvement and police should improve its performance and come up to the expectations of the people.
He directed to constitute a special committee comprising elected representatives and officers and this committee will submit its recommendations regarding change in thana culture, posting of hardworking and efficient officers, constitution of rapid response force, configuration of Lahore police, effective system of punishment and reward and keeping in view all other matters and the same model of Lahore police will be replicated in all districts of the province.
He made it clear that now police would have to give results and there is no alternative way. Earlier, Advisor Jehanzeb Barki gave a detailed briefing with regard to improving the performance of police and enhancing its efficiency which included hard hitting the gangs involved in heinous crimes, apprehending absconders, vigorous campaign against brothels and gambling dens, selection of hardworking and competent SPs and officials and other matters.
CCPO Ahmad Raza Tahir assured the meeting that Lahore police will spare no effort in maintaining law and order and protecting the life and property of the people and will come up to their expectations.
(The Nation)
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