Change in 'thana culture' imperative for restoring confidence: chief minister

Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that positive change in 'thana culture' is imperative for restoring the confidence of people in police as well as helping the poor and oppressed and it is only possible when police officials and officers have fear of accountability.
He said that police stations would have to be made the source of provision of justice and peace instead of symbol of terror and excesses. Besides strict system of accountability and inspection for change in Thana culture and purging the police force of black sheep, the public service spirited persons will have to be recruited in police.
Shahbaz said besides increase in the salaries of the police, all other facilities have been provided to it and now protection of life and property of the people, curbing the crimes, change in Thana culture and becoming protector of citizens in real sense, is its responsibility. The Chief Minister said that now, he wants results from police and he himself will preside over a meeting every month to review the performance of police and change in Thana culture.
He was presiding over a high level meeting with regard to improving the performance of the police at Chief Minister's Secretariat, here Saturday.
Addressing the meeting, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said that people have great expectations from police and it should leave no stone unturned for coming up to their expectations. He said that whatever resources are provided to the police but unless the Thana culture will be changed, the confidence of common man in police will not be restored. He said that if police performs its duties efficiently and the system is fully vibrant, 'ghundas' and anti-social elements would not dare play with the lives and property of innocent citizens.
Mentioning the Pasroor incident, he said that a former Naib Nazim kept a labourer in his torture cell for 11 days and tortured him to death. After his visit to Pasroor, police started action and now the accused has been arrested, added the Chief Minister. Was it not the responsibility of concerned police station and police officers, he questioned. Had the police taken action against the accused involved in more than 50 cases including murder, then a labourer and other innocent citizens would not have to face his cruelties, he added.