LAHORE, June 2: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has ordered strict action against qabza mafia, extortionists and criminals throughout the province.
He said those playing with the lives of innocent citizens deserved no leniency.
The chief minister was presiding over a meeting to review law and order and curbing crimes in the province here on Thursday. The chief secretary, Punjab IGP, home secretary, additional IG of Special branch and Counter Terrorism Department, CCPO, and DIG (Operation) were also present.
The chief minister said the qabza mafia had become a menace for society during the last 10 years.
He said the campaign launched against the qabza mafia in Lahore and Faisalabad had yielded positive results.
Mr Shahbaz said that in view of recent incidents that took place in the country, police should remain fully alert and utilize all their professional capabilities for the protection of life and property of the people.
He directed the police to eliminate gangs involved in heinous crimes and take effective steps for curbing incidents of kidnapping for ransom, car-snatching and street crimes.
An effective system should also be evolved for combing the hideouts of criminals, he added.
He said the police would be equipped with modern weapons for countering criminals in riverine areas of Rahim Yar Khan and Rajanpur.
Shahbaz Sharif said that there was a mushroom growth of private security agencies which were minting money.
The chief minister said that an effective system should be evolved to scrutinize private security agencies and only those companies be allowed to work which fulfilled merit.
He said that security guards of companies should be well-trained and equipped with latest weapons while a procedure should also be adopted for renewal of license of security agencies every year.
He directed the home secretary to arrange a detailed briefing with regard to private security agencies in next few days in which all matters including performance of security agencies, training of security guards and renewal of license each year be made part of it.
The chief minister said promotion of religious harmony and brotherhood was the need of the hour and meetings of peace committees in all districts of the province should be convened regularly.
IGP Javed Iqbal informed the meeting about the law and order situation and the steps taken against criminals in the province.
He said a successful operation against criminals had been carried out in katcha areas for which assistance of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police was also sought. He said 11 boats had also been sent to riverine posts in these areas.
CCPO Ahmad Raza Tahir said steps had been taken for curbing crimes in the provincial metropolis.
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