Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif presided over a high level meeting to review security arrangements for Muharram at the Chief Minister's Secretariat here on Thursday. A number of important decisions regarding promotion of religious harmony, brotherhood and maintenance of law and order situation during Muharram were taken in the meeting.
A cabinet committee headed by Senior Adviser Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa has also been constituted at the provincial level to ensure implementation of the security plan and it will visit all divisional headquarters for this purpose. Shahbaz said that police should be provided all the required facilities and besides provision of generators, Federal Water and Power Minister will also be contacted to ensure smooth supply of electricity.
He said that all wall-chalking should be removed within 48 hours and in future both DCO and DPO will be held responsible for wall-chalking. He said that there should be zero tolerance to the use of loudspeaker, wall-chalking and provocative literature and speeches. He said that peace committees will be mobilised in the province and Home Secretary and Inspector General Police (IGP) will attend the meetings of these committees.
Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister said that maintaining law and order situation during Muharramul Haram is no less than a challenge. All-out efforts will be made to ensure peace and more steps will be taken than the previous year for maintaining religious harmony and tranquillity.
He said that law-enforcement agencies (LEA) will have to remain vigilant to foil the nefarious designs of subversive and anti-state elements. He said that Ulema have always made commendable efforts for maintaining peace during Muharram and this year too they should play their role in promoting peace, religious harmony and brotherhood.
The cabinet committee will comprise Senior Minister Raja Riaz Ahmad, Provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, Member National Assembly Bilal Yaseen, Members Provincial Assembly Khawaja Salman Rafique, Khawaja Imran Nazir, Senator Pervez Rashid, Advisor Jahanzeb Barki, Home Secretary, Inspector General Police and Secretary Implementation and Co-ordination. Shahbaz said the committee could add more members if need be. He said that ban on the use of loudspeaker should strictly be implemented and strict action should be taken against those responsible for wall-chalking, spreading hateful material and making provocative speeches. No laxity will be tolerated in this regard, he added.
Shahbaz said that food should be arranged for policemen performing duties during Muharram and they should be assigned duties in shifts. He said that police have prepared a comprehensive plan regarding security arrangements and it should be implemented in letter and spirit. He termed the briefing given by Additional IG Nasir Khan Durrani as comprehensive and said that it entails all aspects of security and law and order situation.
Earlier, Inspector General Police informed the meeting about the security arrangements for Muharram. He said that instructions have been issued to all senior police officers in this regard and peace committees are being mobilised. Senior Adviser Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa, Senior Minister Raja Riaz Ahmad, Provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan, Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, Inspector General Police and senior officers concerned were also present.
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