LAHORE: A drastic surge in crime against property in the provincial capital finally pushed Inspector General of Police Punjab Shoaib Dastgir to chair first `crime meeting of Lahore police` here on Saturday.

The IGP visited the office of the Lahore capital city police officer (CCPO) following numerous complaints that the incumbent regime of Lahore police hasf ailed in controlling crime.

Particularly, the complaints were about increase in murders, mobile phone and vehicles snatching, automobile theft, kidnapping, robbery, burglary and other sorts of street crime, an of ficial told Dawn.

He said the house robberies, murder on resistance and snatching of vehicles, mobile phones and cash at gunpoint during street crime has witnessed an unprecedented rise during the last two months.

He said over 50 houses had been looted by various gangs of robbers [during the last two months or so] and a majority of them were yet to be traced.

Similarly, three persons were allegedly gunned down by criminals on offering resistance during the same period besides snatching and stealing over 100 cars and motorbikes, the of ficial said.

He said the IGP expressed his dissatisfac-tion at the performance of the Lahore police when CCPO Zulfiqar Hameed tried to defend his position by presenting in the meeting crime data, particularly, the number of arrested criminals during his tenure as head of the force.

Lahore Operations DIG Rai Babar Saeed and Investigation DIG Dr Inam Waheed, chief traffic officer retired Capt Liaqat Ali Malik, SSPs and all divisional SPs attended the meeting. Upon his arrival at the CCPO office, the DIGs also briefed him about the ongoing and new projects of Lahore police.

Meanwhile, according to a handout the IG Punjab directed them to focus and enhance the performance to fight crime.

`Lahore police is the face of Punjab police, therefore, officers should adopt open door policy for resolving the problems of the citizens without any delay and also ensure equal prevalence of law, merit in society so thatpeaceful environment may be promoted, the IGP said.

He said in order to protect lives and properties of people, all officials must further improve working of police stations by closely supervising and monitoring the force.

Mr Dastgir added that the judicious implementation of law on a priority basis would help control crime in this regard.

He further said there is no leniency for those who show slackness and negligence and resort to delaying tactics in resolving the issues of citizens at police stations.

They would have to face stern punishment in accordance with the discipline matrix upon failure to implement the instructions in letter and spirit.

During the meeting, various other projects also came under discussion. They includedPoliceStationRecordManagement, Hotel Eye and Travel Eye.