‘Establishing law and order our top priority’

Minister says administration, security agencies should coordinate to eliminate criminals


Tariq Ismail November 25, 2019
Punjab Minister for Law, Parliamentary Affairs, Local Bodies and Community Development Basharat Raja. PHOTO: EXPRESS

DERA GHAZI KHAN: Punjab Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Basharat Raja has said sustainable law and order for the security of the people in Dera Ghazi Khan was the top priority of the government and all the departments concerned should maintain close coordination to achieve the target.

He expressed these views while chairing the Cabinet Committee on Peace and Security on Sunday. The cabinet committee arranged long meetings with the parliamentarians and administration in the Deputy Commissioner’s office and discussed the overall situation in Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur districts.

The cabinet committee reviewed the performance of police search operations in Rajanpur and the department’s efforts to destroy the network of Ladi gang in Dera Ghazi Khan and criminals.

The meeting decided that to eliminate criminal elements, all the departments concerned would have to work together.

The law minister said establishing law and order for the security of the people in the area was a top priority. “The administration and security agencies should maintain close coordination. It is important to fulfill the needs of vehicles and weapons for the forces.”

The deputy commissioners must have meetings with the security agencies at least every 15 days regarding law and order situation, he added.

Speaking at the meeting, parliamentarians said there was a need to play a dynamic role in protecting the lives and property of the people. RPO Imran Ahmar said the administration was utilising all possible resources to clean up the area from criminals.

“Parliamentarians, administration, law and forces agencies and the public will have to come together on a platform to achieve the desired goals. Encouraging results can be obtained through joint action.”

Speaking to the media, the law minister said that the purpose of visiting the region was to assess the law and order situation, police resources and other needs in the area.

“In the first plan, a comprehensive package will be worked out for the elimination of criminal elements,” he said.

“In the second plan, we are working on the fulfilment of needs of the forces will be catered, he further said. “In the third plan, we are working on a comprehensive package for the improvement of the social development of the area that is to be initiated.”

“We will not let the morale of the police and other forces down. The police department will work to end crime in the area. Recommendations will be made to the chief minister for eliminating the use of force and resources.”

In response to a question, the law minister said that an inquiry was underway to investigate the case of Haider and Abdullah, who were killed in a police encounter, in the jurisdiction of Kot Mubarak police station. “It has also been decided that action will be taken against any individual or group that is found guilty.”

Judicial inquiry of the matter will now be conducted by the District and sessions judge, he explained. ”The provincial government is using all the resources for establishing law and order in this area.”

Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Sardar Dost Ali Mazari, MNA Sardar Amjad Farooq Khan Khosa, MNA Sardar Nasrullah Darshak, MPA Sardar Mohsin Ata Khosa and other parliamentarians attended the meeting besides Commissioner Mudassir Riaz Malik, RPO Imran Ahmar, Deputy Commissioner Waqas Rashid, DC Afzal Nasir, Additional Commissioner Azfar Zia, DPO Asad Sarfraz, Ahsan Saifullah, Political Assistant Syed Musa Raza, Mansoor Ahmed, ACG Mohammad Safatullah and other officers were also present on the occasion

Provincial Minister of Welfare, Provincial Minister of Population, Colonel Retired Sardar Hashim Dogar, Punjab Inspector General of Police Captain (retd) Arif Nawaz Khan, Home Department Additional Chief Secretary Syed Ali Murtaza Shah, Mubashar Mikan and other senior officers were present in the meeting.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 25th, 2019.

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