Police given a free hand to establish government's writ: Caretaker CM

LAHORE (APP) - Punjab Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Monday said that 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 hands.

Addressing a press conference, he said that protecting the lives and properties of people besides maintaining law and order was among the duties of law enforcement agencies, including the police and no compromise would be made in this regard.

He announced that the formation of 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.

Mohsin Naqvi said that the provincial caretaker government was also writing a letter to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) sharing details about what had been happening in the province by a political party.

He said that 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.

The chief minister said that the provincial government had been showing constraint in response to politics of agitation by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) just to avoid unrest and loss of life. "However, 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."

He added that law enforcement agencies had reached the gate of Khan’s residence twice but he called them back.

The caretaker CM said that the reason he asked them to return was that he did not want 'anything to happen' that would ruin the environment or cause a loss of life.

Naqvi 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 that the police performing duties to maintain law and order were also being abused by PTI chief Imran Khan while on the other hand, he (Imran) was asking for security from the same force.

Mohsin Naqvi regretted that the PTI chief was instigating party workers to attack the police and he was openly threatening the police. He announced that 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.

The chief minister 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.

Citizens visiting the centres for getting the flour should be facilitated and treated well, he added.