CM vows justice for slain boy’s family

Says 35% Safe City cameras remained out of order for four years

LAHORE:

Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz vowed on Wednesday to ensure justice for the family of a boy found murdered in Shahdara a day earlier.

The chief minister visited the home of Mujahid Ali and expressed grief over the incident. “I cannot bring back your beloved son but I will ensure justice,” he assured the family.

He said the case would be made an example and those who had committed the injustice would be given exemplary punishment. He said he would monitor the progress on the case and every possible care of the affected family would be ensured.

The chief minister handed over a cheque of Rs3 million to the family of the deceased.

Talking to the media on the occasion, the CM said that making a horrible example of the criminals involved in heinous crimes by enforcing the law was a challenge.

He said the government was committed to eradicating lawlessness. The chief minister regretted that 35% of the cameras of the Safe City project had remained out of order for the past four years.

He said that rather than claiming that all was well, the government was focusing on building the capacity of the police to control crimes with the help of modern technology.

He said police personnel were being posted on the basis of merit. The government would encourage professionalism and face challenges, he added.

The chief minister also said that a constitutional crisis had been created in Punjab in the past three months as the speaker of the provincial assembly and the president allegedly did not follow the Constitution.

Despite the crisis, the people were given Rs160 subsidy for 10kg flour bag.

The CM announced that from July 1 medicines, including those of cancer, would be provided free of charge to patients in all districts of Punjab.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 30^th, 2022.