Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif presided over a meeting to review the law and order situation in the province here on Saturday at his tent office set up at Minar-e-Pakistan. Provincial Minister for Law Rana Sanaullah Khan, Members National and Provincial Assembly, Chief Secretary, Inspector General Police, Secretary Home, Addl IG Special Branch, CCPO Lahore and other officers concerned attended the meeting.
The meeting reviewed the energy crisis and the situation arising due to public protest. Addressing the meeting, the CM said that protracted load-shedding had made the life of the people miserable, adding due to worst load-shedding, labourers, farmers and common man were on streets. "It is right of the people to raise their voice about the problems being faced by them but the damage should not be caused to the public properties during protest. Public properties are our assets and their protection is our national responsibility," he added.
He directed the administration to advise the people to remain peaceful during protest. He said Ulema, labour leaders and influential persons of the society should motivate the people to avoid violence during protest. He said water crisis had risen due to shortage of electricity, which had added the problems of the peoples. "Immediate steps are needed to overcome the problems of the people so that their protest might not convert to any serious situation," he added.
He directed Inspector General Police and Home Secretary to send special teams in Faisalabad, Multan, Sahiwal, Vehari, Kasur and other cities and take special measures for the protection of public properties. Inspector General Police Haji Habib-ur-Rehman informed the meeting regarding the law and order situation in the province whereas Secretary Energy Jehanzeb Khan about the load-shedding and shortfall of electricity.