Naqvi announces JIT, letter to ECP about riots

Asserts police have free hand to maintain order

LAHORE:

Announcing the constitution of joint investigation team (JIT) to probe into alleged acts of terrorism against the Punjab Police, Caretaker Chief Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi vowed on Monday to write a letter to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), enunciating details of activities beyond the domain of politics that had taken place during the past few days.

Addressing a press conference, he asserted that the writ of the state and the government would be established at all cost. “If anyone challenges it and raises a hand against the police, they will be crushed,” he warned.

"I stand with the state, the government and the police. If anyone engages in any activity against the police, they will receive a response that will make them remember it. Enough is enough; the state will enforce its order,” he added.

The caretaker chief minister announced that the police had been given a free hand to maintain law and order in the province and the inspector general had been given complete authority to take decisions after reviewing the situation.

"The police and Rangers had arrived at the Zaman Park gate twice, but we were informed about the presence of weapons, so I sent both forces back. We do not want to disturb the situation, nor do we want any loss of life," he said.

He regretted that policemen had been beaten up while leaving after duty at night.

"I had been consoling the policemen for many days, exhorting them to be patient to avoid casualties. The Elite Force’s vehicle was stopped at 1:30 am, weapons were taken away and the van was smashed and pushed into the canal. There are fences on the sides of the canal and it is not an easy task to push a van into the canal. It cannot be done by ordinary people. Some people are involved in terrorism there, and their pictures have been collected. People from outside Punjab are involved in these activities," he added.

Naqvi stated that political parties did not engage in such actions, nor was vandalism a political activity. “Ordinary political workers do not carry out such attacks. How long will the police endure, do their duty, be abused and even be thrashed? Imran Khan threatened the police even yesterday, and the IG and CCPO were named. The police cannot be allowed to be threatened openly,” he said.

The caretaker chief minister said if someone did not trust the police, then the personnel providing security to him should be sent back. “It is not possible to provide security and then be abused. Security is not possible while beating the police every day. It will not happen that you abuse the police and they protect you.”

He asserted that the personnel had stated that they had search warrants and related messages, but they did not receive a response. He said the police had not entered the residence.

“We are not ready to pick up dead bodies and we do not want the situation to worsen,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 21^st, 2023.