Police given ‘free hand’ to establish writ of law in Punjab: CM Naqvi

LAHORE: Caretaker Chief Minister Punjab Mohsin Naqvi said on Monday that protecting the lives and properties of the people as well as maintaining law and order was among the duties of law enforcement agencies, including the police which had been given a “free hand” to establish the writ of the state in the province.

Addressing a press conference, he announced the formation of a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to look into the incidents occurred during the past one week in the guise of political activity in the provincial capital and to present the facts before the nation.

Naqvi said the provincial caretaker government was also writing a letter to the Election Commission of Pakistan sharing details about what had been happening in the province due to the activities of a political party. He said the police had been given a free hand to establish writ of the government in the province as nobody would be allowed to take law into their hands.

Political activity was a right of everyone but attacking the police personnel and damaging public properties to create an atmosphere of chaos and unrest could not be allowed at all, he said. The chief minister said the provincial government had been showing restraint in response to “politics of agitation” by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) just to avoid unrest and loss of life.

He, however, added that softness of the government should not be taken as its weakness as those involved in attacking the police personnel and public properties would not be spared anymore.

The caretaker chief minister said the law enforcement agencies had reached the gate of Khan’s residence twice but he called them back. Naqvi said he asked them to return for the reason that he did not want “anything to happen” that would ruin the environment or cause a loss of life.

He also shared that when the police cleared Canal Road, a cop returning from duty was attacked and an Elite Force car was also attacked the same night. The chief minister said the police personnel performing duties to maintain law and order were also being abused by PTI chief Imran Khan, while on the other hand, he (Khan) was asking for security from the same force.

Naqvi regretted that the PTI chief was instigating the party workers to attack the police and he was openly threatening the police. The caretaker chief minister announced financial assistance for the policemen injured during the current clashes. He announced Rs 100,000 for minor injured and Rs 500,000 for seriously injured personnel.

The chief minister further said the provincial government had started the process of free flour distribution to the deserving families throughout the holy month of Ramadan as dedicated centres had been set up in the province.

He advised the relevant authorities that citizens visiting the centres for getting the flour should be facilitated and treated well.