LAHORE – Bank robberies and dacoities at jewellery shops have almost been controlled in Lahore due to pro-active policing, while the police have also smashed several other gangs involved in heinous crimes.

Presiding over a high-level meeting held at Police Lines Qila Gujjar Singh on Wednesday to review the security and crime situation in Lahore, Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Muhammad Habib-ur-Rehman said the arrest of hardened criminals would not only help police maintain law and order but also further bring down the crime rate. The Punjab IGP said police were committed to make Lahore a crime-free city, and root out criminals and crimes from the province. “The Lahore police are working day and night to control crime. In particular, the CIA police needs appreciation for arresting the criminals involved in the killing of Lahore Bar Association senior member Advocate Nasrullah Waraich,” the IGP maintained.
Later, all the divisional SPs briefed the IGP about the crime situation in their respective areas one by one. The Punjab IGP said corrupt and incompetent officers / officials would be kicked out from the department, while honest and dedicated officers / officials would be rewarded and encouraged.
The IGP gave commendatory certificates to the officers and officials of Lahore police for ensuring extraordinary security arrangements during the holy month of Ramazan. The IGP awarded Rs100,000 to CIA SP Omar Virk for his outstanding performance while the divisional SPs were given Rs20,000 each. While responding to a question about the arrest of Shaukat Basra after the meeting, the police chief said the IGP office did not make arrests.
Meanwhile, addressing an open court held at the Noor Mahal Marriage Hall on Ferozpur Road, the IGP said the Police Department was the first step of the criminal justice system. “Therefore, the police are responsible for providing free and speedy justice to the victims,” he added.
A large number of people appeared in the open court and the IGP listened to their problems and complaints, and issued on-the-spot orders for the redress of their grievances. He suspended a police constable and his three accomplices from service for torturing a student in the limits of the Sattu Katla police precincts.
Lahore CCPO Muhammad Aslam Tareen, DIG (Operations) Rai Muhammad Tahir, DIG (Investigations) Chaudhry Muhammad Shafique, SSP (Investigations) Babar Bakhat Qureshi, SP Headquarters Hassan Mushtaq Sukhera and all divisional SPs were also present on this occasion.