Shahbaz orders strict security for Muharram

LAHORE
CHIEF Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that every possible step will be taken for protection of life and property of people during Muharram-ul-Haram and necessary instructions have already been issued to Provincial Cabinet Committee on Law and Order to maintain peace in the province.
Addressing a meeting here Thursday to review various proposals for giving a final shape to security arrangements in the province in view of the arrival of Muharram-ul-Haram, the chief minister said that maintenance of law and order was the prime responsibility of the government and no effort should be spared for the protection of life and property of the people.
He said that resources would continue to be provided for maintaining peace. He directed that a comprehensive security plan should be evolved and its implementation should be ensured while even better security arrangements should be made than the last year for the protection of life and property of citizens. He said that responsibilities of police, administration and law-enforcement agencies had increased in the present situation. He said that foolproof security arrangements should be ensured in all districts before the start of Muharram and special attention should be paid to the security of mosques, imambargahs, worship places and sensitive spots. He said that indiscriminate action should be continued against the elements involved in delivering provocative speeches, wall-chalking and publication and distribution of such literature which promotes religious hatred.
He said that implementation of the code of conduct should be ensured at any cost and warned that its violation would not be tolerated.
He said that security arrangements should be finalised for ensuring security of Majalis and religious processions. He said that all institutions concerned should remain alert and utilise all their energies for ensuring peace. He directed that law against display of weapons should be strictly implemented and an effective strategy should be evolved for observance of the timings and the routes of processions. He said it was the time for unity and harmony. He directed that members of peace committees at provincial, divisional, district and tehsil level should perform their responsibility in an active manner. He directed that core management teams be set up at police station, tehsil, district and divisional level while control rooms should also be established in districts and divisions.
He directed that the Cabinet Committee on Law and Order should visit all divisions of Punjab to review and give a final shape to security arrangements.
NOTICE: Shahbaz Sharif has taken notice of injury to a motorcyclist and his wife due to kite twine in North Cantonment and sought a report from CCPO Lahore.
He ordered that ban on kite-flying should be strictly implemented and action be taken against the officials showing negligence.
He said that district administration and police should work jointly to implement the ban on kite-flying and warned that violation of the law would not be tolerated. He said that best treatment facilities be provided to the injured.