Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that young police officers should play an effective role for provision of prompt justice to common man and bringing a positive change in 'Thana' culture so that a feeling of protection could be promoted in the poor masses.
He said that police officers should not only come up to the expectations of the people but also provide justice to the common citizens without any discrimination. He stressed that there was a need for collective efforts for progress and development of the country and termed economic self-reliance essential for genuine freedom measures to developing indigenous resources.
The CM stated this while talking to a 35-members delegation of ASPs (UT) of 36th CTC, which called on him under the leadership of Commandant Mehmood Alam Masood at the Chief Minister's Secretariat, here Tuesday. Provincial Minster for Law Rana Sanaullah Khan, IG Police and Home Secretary were also present on the occasion.
Addressing the under-training police officers, the CM said young police officers should take full benefit of the opportunity for serving the country and people and they should play an active role for bringing positive changes in the traditional system of police.
Shahbaz pointed that Pakistan was passing through a critical phase of its history and facing serious challenge of extremism. He said that blood of innocent citizens was being shed and Pak army, police and general public were rending supreme sacrifices in the war against terrorism.
Terrorists were not only maligning the country but the process of foreign investment and development had also been affected, he said. He urged the young officers to take maintenance of law and order as a challenge. Besides elimination of terrorism, reformation of traditional police system was also important as at present, the common man thinks twice before going to police station for seeking justice, he observed. He said that there were also good officers in police force but there were still complaints of corruption and high-handedness in police stations.
He further said there were double standards of justice and admitted that sometimes, oppressors were made the aggrieved on the basis of influence. He stressed that a strict accountability system in police department was of paramount importance in improving its efficiency and making the police force servants of the people in real sense. He assured that Punjab government was taking practical measures in this regard.
The Chief Minister said the dictators ruled the country for 32 years out of its 63 years history and they always blamed democratic governments for corruption and mismanagement whereas the facts were different. He termed Musharraf's era as the worst period of the country's history when not only national resources were looted, but institutions were also destroyed. He alleged that Musharraf 'cowed down' before his foreign masters only to prolong his rule.
He said that freedom of expression was the hallmark of democratic era so that people could raise their voice for the solution of their problems. Democracy was the name of service to the people and there was a dire need for strengthening of democratic system in the country and solution of people's problems, he added.
Shahbaz said recruitment in Punjab police had been made purely on merit and honest officers had been assigned field duties. He said the Inspector General Police Tariq Saleem was also an honest and hard working officer and was making sincere efforts for the reformation of police system. Later, the Chief Minister answered the queries of the police officers.