Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz made it clear on Tuesday that no group or gangs could be allowed to take the law into their own hands, adding that every possible step should be taken to protect the life and property of the people.
Chairing a meeting to review the law and order situation in the province, he said indiscriminate legal action would be taken against the elements involved in creating lawlessness during the PTI long march on May 25.
No one would be allowed to challenge the writ of the state, he added.
The chief minister said the police had efficiently worked to maintain law and order on May 25 and full support to the force would be continued.
He said the responsibility of protecting the people would be fulfilled at all cost.
Meanwhile, Punjab Police gears up for dealing with next possible long march by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
PTI chief and former prime minister of Pakistan Imran Khan had given an ultimatum while ending up the agitation at Islamabad against their earlier plans and vowed to return after a week or so.
To counter PTI's second march towards the federal capital, Punjab Police has devised multifaceted strategy. This involves post-Azadi March crackdown, equipping police with anti-riot gears and better equipment, replacement of command at key districts, and surveillance of activists of PTI leaders.
Punjab Police had extensively fired tear-gas shells to disperse participants of Azadi March and had run short of it.
It is procuring on emergency basis at least 5,000 additional tear gas shells and guns in addition to rubber bullets.
A huge number of FIRs have been registered across the province against chaos, riot and damaging public property during Azadi March in which hundreds of unidentified suspects have been mentioned.
Punjab Police is on standby to launch an extensive crackdown to arrest the PTI activists based on those FIRs.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 1st, 2022.
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