Daily Times

LAHORE: Caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Dr Hassan Askari has issued necessary directions to the administration, concerned agencies as well as the Water & Sanitation Agency (WASA) in different districts for early disposal of rain water accumulated due to torrential rains in the provincial metropolis and other cities of the province.

While issuing directions on Tuesday, he said that WASA and other agencies should proactively work for early disposal of accumulated water and they should also remain fully proactive to deal with the rainy season. He said all resources should be utilised for disposal of water and officers and their staff should remain in the field to monitor the water disposal activities. He said every possible step should be taken to solve the problems of the people and report should be presented after disposal of water. Citizens should not face any difficulty in wake of situation resulting due to rains, he said.

Meanwhile, the caretaker Punjab chief minister has expressed a deep sense of sorrow and grief over the loss of lives due to rain related incidents and extended sympathies to the heirs. He has also directed the administration to provide best healthcare facilities to the injured.

The Caretaker Punjab CM Dr Hassan Askari strongly condemned the attacks on security forces in Avaran and Panjgur areas of Baluchistan.

He has expressed a deep sense of sorrow and grief over the martyrdom of security officials. He also extended sympathies to the bereaved families and prayed for the early recovery of the injured. He said the nefarious and coward attacks of terrorists cannot weaken the strong commitment and passion of the nation and added that all our sympathies are with the families of the martyrs. The martyred officials are heroes of the nation and we pay strong tributes to their immortal sacrifices, concluded the CM.

Addressing the commissioners and RPOs Conference at Circuit House Multan on Tuesday, Dr Hassan Askari said that indiscriminate implementation of code of conduct of election commission will be ensured on polling day.

Arrangements are being made keeping in view all aspects of law and order situation. Administration will play fundamental role for achieving the objectives of independent elections. The coordination of police, administration and other agencies is commendable, he said. Caretaker Home Minister Shaukat Javed said that security agencies should remain vigilant in wake of sensitivity of present situation. Earlier, Commissioner Multan Nadeem Irshad Kiani and RPO Abu Bakar Khuda Bakhsh, Commissioner Dera Ghazi Khan Rana Gulzar, RPO Faisal Shahkaar and Commissioner Bahawalpur Nayyar Iqbal and RPO Sheikh Umar gave a detailed briefing about all the districts with regard to elections and security arrangements and other relevant issues.

It was stated in the briefing that aerial firing and fire crackers will not be allowed during elections and search operations will be underway. The polling material will be transferred in strict vigilance. Security will be tightened at polling stations and other places. Advance arrangements will be made to deal with any situation on Election Day. Police will be deputed at different places and it will also maintain effective patrolling. Caretaker provincial ministers Zia Haider Rizvi, Shaukat Javed, Secretary to CM Khurram Agha, Additional Secretary Anwar Kharal and others were present on the occasion. Earlier while talking to the media at burn unit of Nishter Hospital, Hassan Askari said that basic mandate of caretaker government is to ensuring free and fair elections. In this regard, elections arrangements are being monitored through administration and media. The candidates of all the political parties are being given equal opportunities for elections campaign. Electoral code of conduct is being strictly implemented through administration and police. Election commission has give approval to postings and transfers in the province and it is directly taking action over the major law and order incidents occurred in Multan and some other cities during the election campaign. These incidents will not be allowed to be repeated. To a question, he said that administration has been issued directions to solve the election related complaints. Legal action will be initiated if candidate brought any issue or complaint into the notice of administration. Provincial ministers and others were also present on the occasion.

Published in Daily Times, July 4^th 2018.