Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has taken strict notice of the incidents of kidnapping for ransom in the province and directed the Inspector General Police to purchase necessary equipment for tracing phone calls as well as take immediate action against the criminals involved in such cases.
He took notice during a meeting on Monday where he warned that kidnappings for ransom would not be tolerated and the police should accept the challenge of curbing this menace. He directed the IG Punjab to set up a special cell under his supervision to curb the incidents of kidnapping for ransom. The cell should comprise highly professional and competent police officers and submit its report directly to the IG.
A special taskforce should set up for this purpose that would remain alert," he added. He directed the IG Police to immediately purchase latest machinery for tracing phone calls and expressed his surprise over the fact that this machinery is not available to Punjab Police.
"How the funds provided to the police have been spent if these have not been utilised on the improvement of matters of fundamental nature, purchase of modern machinery for eradication of crime, provision of technical facilities to the police force or betterment of prevalent conditions in police stations," he added.
He also directed the IG Police to arrange training of concerned staff of Punjab police from intelligence agencies. He directed the Punjab Law Minister to conduct a meeting of the sub-committee set up for curbing heinous crime on daily basis whereas he will himself convene a meeting on weekly basis to review police performance. The IG Police told him that in 88 percent cases of kidnap for ransom in the last two months, 31 abductees had been released whereas 65 kidnappers, including two women, arrested.