Operation against terrorists to be stepped up, says IG

LAHORE: Newly-appointed Inspector General of Police Arif Nawaz has said the pace of ongoing operations against terrorists would be accelerated so that anti-state elements could soon be taken to task. 

He said that the elimination of terrorists and criminal elements was on the top of his priorities and the Punjab police would now fight against anti-state elements with further zeal and enthusiasm by utilising all its available resources. He assumed the charge of IG office at Central Police Office on Wednesday, and held a first meeting with senior police officers. Addl IGP PHP, Amjad Javed Saleemi, Addl IGP I & V, Ejaz Hussain Shah, Addl: IGP Welfare and Finance, Shoaib Dastigir, Addl IGP Special Branch Punjab, Faisal Shahkar, Addl IGP Investigation Punjab, Azhar Hameed Khokhar, Addl IGP Operations Punjab, Mohsin Hassan Butt, DIG Headquarters Punjab, BA Nasir, DIG R&D, Ahmad Ishaque Jehangir, DIG Traffic Punjab, Farooq Mazhar, DIG Telecommunication, Ahsan Tufail. DIG Training, Saad Akhtar Bharwana, DIG Establishment-II, Salman Ch, DIG Welfare, Waseem Ahmad Khan Sial, DIG Development, Kamran Khan, DIG IT, Humayun Bashir Tarar, DIG Establishment-I, Syed Khurram Ali and other senior officers attended the meeting. Arif Nawaz directed the officers to perform their duty with fervour, zeal and honesty and ensure safety of lives, property and honour of citizens. He directed the officers to promote team work and usage of modern technology so that criminal elements and groups could be eliminated.

He directed the officers to take immediate measures if they felt any further improvement in the police system with regard to facilitating the citizens. He directed for taking all necessary measures to boost the morale of police force so that the officers and jawans could show outstanding performance in the field. He directed the RPOs and DPOs to solve the cases pertaining to the force welfare without any further delay.

Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police, Punjab, Arif Nawaz Khan visited  Qila Gujjar Singh Police Lines  soon after assuming the charge of his office and paid tribute to the martyrs at Yadgar-e-Shuhada on Wednesday.

He also offered Fateha for the martyrs of Kot Lakhpat blast. The personnel of Lahore Police presented salute to the IGP.  Lahore CCPO Amin Wains, DIG Operations Dr Haider Ashraf, DIG Investigations Ch Sultan, DIG Security Dr Moeen, CTO Rai Ijaz, SSP Operations Athar Ismaeel and divisional SPs were also present.

IG Arif Nawaz  said Lahore Police were the pride of Punjab Police Department. He appreciated the technology-led initiatives of Lahore Police for changing police culture. He said Punjab police had been facing various challenges which would be solved through better coordination and cooperation. He resolved to address the issues of the force highlighted by the CCPO.