LAHORE: Chief Minister Usman Buzdar directed the police on Friday to take effective measures for the protection of life and property of the people as well as the eradication of crimes from society. In this regard, the cabinet committee for law and order was issued necessary directions.

In a statement, the chief minister said that protection of life and property of citizens was an important responsibility of the state and added that practical measures should be taken, instead of any lip-service, which have to be visible to everyone as nothing was important than it.

He said that officers showing leniency in performing their duties would be held accountable while those showing good performance would be encouraged. The chief minister directed regional and district police heads that eradication of crimes be actively performed and responsibilities be fulfilled without caring for any pressure for eliminating crimes from society.

He said the police should treat the citizens with respect who visit police stations and improve its overall attitude to such an extent achange in the culture of police stations is visible.

The chief minister said details of the special campaign launched for the arrest of proclaimed offenders involved in heinous crimes should be provided to his office regularly and solid strategy should be implemented for the eradication of crimes. Meetings on law and order should be regularly held at the level of divisions and districts. He said the police would have to show results for the protection of life and property of the citizens, adding that all possible steps should be taken. The rule of law will be ensured at every cost in the province, he added.

Also, on the directions of the chief minister, provincial ministers Ansar Majeed Niazi and Rai Taimur Bhatti, and MPAs Mohiuddin Khosa and Ahmed Ali Dreshak listened to the problems of the citizens at Chief Minister`s Office. They individually met the visiting people and directed the officials for immediate action.

Mr Niazi said that solving the genuine problems of the citizens was an important priority of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government. Mr Bhatti said that they came into power to solve the problems of the people as the government wanted to give relief to them.