Summary Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz gives police officers four weeks to improve law and order, curb crimes against women and children, and strengthen policing, warning of removal for poor performance.
LAHORE (Dunya News) – Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has given relevant police officers four weeks to improve law and order, curb crimes against women and children, and enhance police performance across the province, warning that officers could be removed from their posts if the situation does not improve within the deadline.
According to an official statement, a special meeting on law and order was held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, with regional police officers (RPOs) and district police officers (DPOs) participating via video link. The meeting received detailed briefings on the law and order situation in every division and district of Punjab.
Expressing displeasure over the rising number of crimes against women and children, Maryam Nawaz directed the relevant authorities to take effective measures to prevent crime and improve the overall law and order situation. She warned that police officers concerned could be removed from their positions if the situation failed to improve within four weeks.
During the meeting, the chief minister directed police to prevent wheat smuggling in all districts, particularly in areas along the provincial borders. She also ordered an intensified anti-bribery campaign within the police department and action against personnel involved in corruption.
Maryam Nawaz expressed dissatisfaction with traffic management and directed the police to ensure strict action against overspeeding. She also ordered preventive action against individuals possessing illegal weapons across the province and stressed the need to ensure the recovery of such weapons. She further directed authorities to enforce the ban on camera-equipped glasses and other surveillance devices.
The chief minister ordered increased police patrolling across Punjab and directed authorities to ensure a visible police presence in every area to instil fear of the law among criminal elements. She also instructed officials to provide motorcycles and other necessary facilities to the Dolphin Force in Lahore to strengthen its patrolling operations.
The meeting also expressed concern over the law and order situation in the Rawalpindi division. Maryam Nawaz directed all RPOs to hold weekly meetings to review crime prevention measures and submit performance reports of the relevant DPOs.
The chief minister made it clear that a culture of hooliganism would not be tolerated in Punjab and that those involved in such activities would not be spared. She directed the authorities to take comprehensive measures to eliminate drugs, identify crime hotspots and dismantle criminal networks.
The meeting was also instructed to continue efforts to enhance the operational capacity of the designated RMC police force responsible for handling crowds. The chief minister praised the RMC force for performing its duties effectively during the proposed sit-in.
Maryam Nawaz Sharif paid tribute to police personnel who lost their lives while on duty. She directed authorities to provide lifelong salaries and special compensation packages to the families of martyred police officers.
She also instructed police officers to personally visit the organisers of the Tableeghi Ijtema to address administrative and security-related matters effectively.
