LAHORE: (APP) Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif presided over a meeting here on Thursday which reviewed in detail the overall law and order situation in the province.
Steps taken for security of courts, security arrangements on Independence Day, traffic management and checking one wheeling besides progress on the incidents of missing children and performance of Child Protection Bureau were also reviewed in the meeting and several important decisions were taken in this regard.
The meeting prayed for the departed souls of martyrs and early recovery of the injured of Quetta tragedy.
Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said all sympathies of the Punjab government were with the bereaved families of martyrs. He said that Quetta tragedy was a deplorable incident of barbarism.
He said menace of terrorism would be eliminated with the force of unity. He added great sacrifices of martyrs would not go waste.
He said police and concerned institutions would have to work with more force and courage for eradicating terrorism.
He said the role of Pak army and security agencies in eliminating terrorism was commendable.
He said: “We will not rest content till the elimination of last terrorist.”
He said that the entire nation would have to become a rock wall for foiling the nefarious designs of enemy. He said the efforts of Anti-Terrorist Force in eliminating terrorism were appreciable.
The chief minister directed to make the security of courts foolproof and added that no efforts should be spared for the security of judges. He said that besides judiciary, special attention should be paid to security of the lawyers community.
He said steps being taken for the recovery of lost children had yielded positive results. All out measures should be made for the reformation of the situation without hiding facts, he added.
Shehbaz Sharif said that a permanent system of monitoring should be evolved regarding missing children and effective steps taken for the return of misplaced children to their homes.
Shehbaz Sharif said he would regularly review pace of progress being made with regard to recovery of missing children. He directed constitution of a steering committee headed by Special Assistant Rana Maqbool Ahmad regarding misplaced children and said that the committee should take all necessary steps in this regard and work in an active manner.
The chief minister directed that indiscriminate action should be taken against the persons involved in beggary from innocent children. He appreciated the performance of Child Protection Bureau on working in an effective manner for the recovery and rehabilitation of lost children and said the bureau had played a commendable role in this regard.
Shehbaz Sharif directed to ensure foolproof security of August 14 ceremonies and said that there was nothing superior to protection of life and property of the masses. All out steps should be taken for the protection of life and property of the masses, he added. He said additional police force should be deputed at sensitive and public places along with markets, bazaars and other important places.
He said that police and concerned agencies should remain vigilant and implementation of a comprehensive security plan be ensured.
The meeting decided to observe Independence Day ceremonies with simplicity in view of the Quetta tragedy.
The chief minister ordered to continue a crackdown without any discrimination against the persons involved in one wheeling and added that effective action under the law should be continued against one wheelers. Shehbaz Sharif said that he will not tolerate one wheeling in any city including Lahore.
He said action should be taken as per law against under aged drivers of motorcycles and vehicles. He said that an effective strategy should be evolved for smooth flow of traffic in Lahore, Murree and big cities on the Independence Day.
During briefing, it was informed that 41 children have returned to their homes or recovered during the last two weeks. It was informed that more than 4,000 cases had been registered against one wheelers within nine days.
Provincial Minister for Law Rana Sanaullah Khan, Advisor Health Khawaja Salman Rafiq, Jehangir Khanzada MPA, Special Assistant Rana Maqbool Ahmad, Chairperson Child Protection & Welfare Bureau MPA Saba Sadiq, Inspector General Police, Secretary Home and senior police and civil authorities attended the meeting.