LAHORE - The police department is going to lead a major anti encroachment drive involving officials from the Lahore development authority, city district government, and excise and taxation department in the metropolis.
The provincial government ordered the police to lead the campaign with “full force” as the district administration faced stiff resistance from encroachers in different parts of the city. Heavy police contingents including anti-riot units are expected to take part in the special operation.
Punjab inspector general police Mushtaq Ahmad Sukhera yesterday called for a massive clampdown on the encroachers across Lahore while presiding over a conference at the central police office. Additional-IG (Welfare and Finance) Sohail Khan, Additional-IG (Establishment) Dr Arif Mushtaq, DIG, Azhar Hameed Khokhar, Shahid Hanif, Lahore DIG (Operations) Dr Haider Ashraf, DIG B.A Nasir, Farooq Mazhar, Salman Chaudhry, and Waseem Siyal were also present in the meeting.
The provincial police chief also directed the field police officers to take action against encroachments, unauthorized number plates, and unregistered vehicles. The police were also ordered to launch an operation against beggars roaming on city roads.
The officials of the excise and taxation department, Lahore Development Authority, and city district government will assist the police during the drive. The law enforcement agency was also asked to take into confidence public representatives. The police will use force in case of any resistance. For this purpose, Shahdara, Thokar Niaz Baig, and Kahna areas were identified as trouble spots.
The IGP directed the city traffic officer to utilize as much as required Punjab constabulary force but should leave no stone unturned to get rid of the encroachments and professional beggary. According to the proposed plan, a special squad will be constituted to clear encroachments.
The working mechanism of the squad should prevent the establishment of the encroachments and illegal stalls in markets, bazaars, crossings, and roads by ensuring strict action during early hours so that smooth flow of the traffic should be ensured.
The police chief said the trend of bike-riding without wearing a helmet should be discouraged throughout the Punjab province. He also proposed to launch public awareness campaigns in this regard and to coordinate with motorcycle manufacturing companies to provide helmets to customers on discounted price or by including price of helmet with the price of bike, because usage of helmet can minimize the risk of road mishaps, a police spokesperson said.
On this occasion, the IGP directed the Lahore DIG (Operations) to enhance armed patrolling by Dolphin Force patrolling during peak hours of crime happenings particularly in crime-prone localities. He also directed the officers to improve monitoring of patrolling of Dolphin Force and Police Response Unit.
The police chief also ordered regular maintenance and inspection of vehicles of the police response units and Dolphin Force. An officer of the rank of DSP should supervise the regular inspection after every 15 days and strict departmental action should be taken against official using vehicles and bikes carelessly.
Also, the IGP directed his department to prepare promotion cases of traffic wardens and call departmental promotion committee meetings as early as possible to ensure the completion of promotion process within two weeks. He said that the delay in promotion cases of police officials would not be tolerated and letters of displeasure would be issued to the heads of the concerned districts.
Meanwhile, IGP Mushtaq Ahmad Sukhera directed the police administration that security arrangements should be improved at police headquarters with regular briefing to security officials deployed around important installations.
"The Nation"
***