Security during Moharram: 'Elite Force to be withdrawn from VIPs' security'

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that maintenance of law and order and curbing crimes is the prime responsibility of police and no negligence will be tolerated in this regard. The Chief Minister said that he will only be satisfied with the performance of the police when people will be satisfied from it.
He directed that professionally competent SPs should be deputed in the provincial metropolis and he will himself preside over the meeting for reviewing the law-and-order situation regularly. He said that a plan should be evolved and presented in this regard. He directed that a strategy should also be evolved for taking back Elite Force deployed on the security of VIPs and deputing guards of best private security companies trained from Elite School in their place and the committee should submit its recommendations in this regard at the earliest.
He said that the Jawans of Elite Force taken back should be deputed for the protection of life and property of the people and rooting out heinous crimes. He was presiding over a high level meeting held to review security arrangements and law-and-order situation during Moharram-ul-Haraam at committee room of Civil Secretariat here on Saturday.
Members of Assembly, Inspector General of Police, Home Secretary, Commissioner and District Co-ordination Officer Lahore, Capital City Police Officer, DIGs Operations and Investigations Lahore and concerned senior officers attended the meeting. The meeting especially reviewed in detail crimes' situation and security arrangements in the provincial metropolis during Moharram-ul-Haraam.
Addressing the meeting, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said that the security arrangements better than previous years' should be made during Moharram-ul-Haraam and no effort should be spared in this regard. He directed that the peace committees should be fully activated and such influential persons should be included in these committees who can play their effective role for the maintenance of law and order. He also directed to constitute a special committee comprising elected representatives at Lahore level which will take steps for making foolproof security arrangements in consultation with administration and police and empowering the peace committees with regard to maintenance of law and order.
He directed to strictly implement the code of conduct and ban on wall chalking and said that strict action should be initiated against the violators. He directed to adopt a comprehensive strategy for curbing crimes and the gangs involved in crimes should be hit hard.