LAHORE: Punjab Inspector General of Police Faisal Shahkar said that foolproof arrangements for the security of Ashura processions and Majalis should be ensured all costs across the province, particularly in Lahore.
“The police should ensure active role of peace committees in collaboration with the district administration, establish an atmosphere of mutual harmony with the scholars from all schools of thoughts and civil society for peace and tranquility in Muharram.”
Punjab Inspector General of Police Faisal Shahkar issued the instructions at a meeting held here at District Police Lines Lahore to review security for Muharram.
The IG Police directed the field officers to give full cooperation to the citizens coming to follow their cases.
Lahore CCPO Ghulam Mehmood Dogar, DIG Operations Afzaal Ahmed Kausar, DIG Investigations Kamran Adil, CTO Lahore Muntazer Mehdi, SSPs Operations and Investigations, all Divisional SPs and other officers of the Lahore Police attended the meeting.
Faisal Shahkar said that special attention should be given to security at entry and exit points of the city. He stressed the need for best security arrangements for Imambargahs, mosques and other places of worship.
The IGP said that all routes of Ashura procession should be monitored through Safe City CCTV cameras and Special Branch, CTD and other sensitive agencies should speed up search and combing operations.
During the meeting, CCPO Ghulam Mahmood Dogar briefed the IGP about crime control, while DIG Operations Afzal Kausar briefed the IGP about the security arrangements regarding Ashura Muharram.
During the meeting, the IG Police issued orders to adopt zero tolerance policy regarding cases of violence and harassment against women and children, adding that the Gender Crime Cell should be restructured to make it more active. He stressed that women personnel and officers in the force should also be given a chance in the field. Faisal Shahkar said that ill-treatment of citizens would not be tolerated under any circumstances, saying there should be a clear change in the behavior of officers. He said that only by improving public service delivery and reaching out to the victims, the police can gain trust and support of the citizens, so any delay in registering cases will not be tolerated.
The IG Police said that indiscriminate action should be taken against the land mafia who are occupying property owned by overseas Pakistanis and innocent citizens and organized gangs should be brought under the law by taking concrete steps to control street crime in the City. He directed to increase patrolling of dolphins and Peru forces near sensitive mosques, imambargahs, public places and markets.
Earlier on arrival at Police Lines, the IG Police was presented bouquet by the children of martyred policemen. The IGP laid floral wreath on the martyrs monument at Lahore Police Lines and offered Fateha for the departed souls of martyrs. Faisal Shahkar paid tribute to the sacrifices of the martyrs of Lahore Police and also recorded his impressions in the memorial book on the occasion.
