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LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has taken notice of a sudden rise in the crime rate across the province and convened an emergency meeting.
During the meeting, she personally showed videos of recent criminal incidents to participants, expressing strong displeasure and seeking explanations from police officers concerned. The meeting set targets for proactive measures to curb crime. The chief minister reprimanded officials over their failure to control crime in Sheikhupura and Faisalabad, directing Regional Police Officers (RPOs) and District Police Officers (DPOs) to extend full cooperation to the Crime Control Department (CCD).
Addressing RPOs, City Police Officers (CPOs) and DPOs via video link, the chief minister described the rising crime trend as “shameful and alarming”. She said despite significant efforts to make Punjab safer, there was no room for complacency. “The growing incidents of murder, robbery, kidnapping and disappearances are absolutely unacceptable,” she said, adding that even the smallest crime must be prevented.
She emphasised that the police had been freed from all forms of interference and must now deliver results. “We have faced criticism from all sides due to 100 per cent merit-based policing, but no police officer should now fear political pressure,” she added, noting that in the past, appointments were made on political affiliations, whereas political interference has now been eliminated.
The chief minister said she personally conducts final interviews of police officers and has provided them with ample resources, including budget, weapons, equipment and vehicles. “Even my family expressed concern when I took ownership of CCD, but our goal is to ensure a sense of protection and peace for the public,” she said, vowing strict action to improve law and order.
Referring to specific incidents, she termed the video of a car battery theft in Gulberg as “shameful” and highlighted worsening crime in Gujrat, where passengers were robbed after a bus was stopped. “Such incidents create fear; where robbery can occur, murder can also happen,” she warned. She expressed concern that crimes were occurring despite the establishment of Safe City projects across the province and described narcotics-related statistics as “embarrassing”. Citing another incident, she noted that a Speedo bus conductor assaulted a child, saying that such acts would not occur if there was fear of the law. She added that the police had been allocated a record Rs527 billion over the past two years — an unprecedented amount in the province’s history.
Meanwhile, Maryam Nawaz has stressed the need to protect forests, reduce carbon emissions and promote a green economy on the Earth Day. In her message, she paid tribute to individuals and organisations working to protect the planet and reaffirmed the government’s resolve to safeguard the Earth. She appealed to the public to abandon plastic use and adopt tree plantation, stressing that every individual must play a role in environmental protection. Also, Maryam paid tribute to security forces for killing 18 terrorists in Khyber District and praised their successful operations against terrorism. She said the entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the country’s armed forces in the fight against terrorism.
