LALAMUSA: District Police Officer (DPO) Gujrat Akhtar Farooq has admitted that Gujrat ranks third in Punjab in terms of murder and violent crime, attributing the situation mainly to domestic disputes, intolerance, the widespread availability of weapons and drug abuse.
Speaking at a gathering of journalists and officials of the Gujrat Press Club, the DPO said he had started reforms within the police department by taking action against officers involved in criminal activities, including registering cases and dismissing those found guilty.
He described illegal weapons and narcotics as major challenges for law enforcement, adding that drug addiction destroys families and contributes to crime. He assured journalists that their suggestions would be incorporated into policing strategies and expressed confidence that law and order would improve significantly.
Patron-in-Chief and former president of the Gujrat Press Club, Muhammad Younas Saqi, said the district had long been known for its high crime rate and had historically served as a refuge for criminals. However, he noted that the settlement of the Chenab Bela and Rakh Pabbi forest areas had eliminated many hideouts previously used by proclaimed offenders.
He said police could not completely prevent crime but could reduce it through effective investigations and by ensuring offenders were brought to justice. He stressed that street crime and snatching remained major concerns requiring urgent attention.
Saqi welcomed the decline in the public display of weapons but said recent murders indicated that illegal firearms were still easily available. He urged police to intensify operations against unlicensed weapons to help reduce murders and robberies.
He also appreciated police efforts against narcotics and highlighted the district’s tradition of sectarian harmony, noting that Shia and Sunni communities jointly support religious events during Muharram and Rabi-ul-Awwal, reflecting strong inter-sect cooperation.
