Daily Times

LAHORE: Inspector General of Punjab (IGP) Police Dr Syed Kalim Imam has issued directions to put security on high alert to counter the plans of terrorists, extremists and anti-social elements in the province ahead of general elections 2018, on Thursday.

In his letter to the capital city police officer, Lahore along with regional police officers, DPOs and city police officers, the IGP Punjab has ordered all the officers to expedite search, sweep and intelligence based combing operations in all the districts of the province. He also ordered to install mobile check posts under the supervision of circle officers in sensitive areas on daily basis and to increase patrolling hours of Dolphin, PRU and other patrolling forces in the areas where election campaigns are at their peak.

In the letter, IGP Punjab further ordered to ensure the implementation of the code of conduct issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan. He ordered prompt action against those who would violate loudspeaker act or do aerial firing, print, publish or broadcast hate speech etc.

He ordered strict action against those who would violate Tenant Registration Act while strict monitoring should be done on inter-district and inter-provincial check posts. He further said that to strengthen the security, polling staff and the voters of the sensitive polling stations should be monitored through closed circuit television cameras and other advance instruments and that the senior police officers would brief the staff on daily basis regarding the challenges so that they may fulfill their duty in a better way.

IG Punjab said that it is the prime responsibility of Punjab police to maintain peaceful environment in the province and for that purpose he has ordered to ensure the implementation of security plan according to the designed standard operating procedure for corner meetings, rallies, and processions to maintain peace. He further said that all the officers should perform their duty with great rigour, honesty and sense of patriotism so that the election process could be completed peacefully.

Published in Daily Times, July 20^th 2018.