LAHORE – Punjab chief minister’s Senior Adviser Sardar Zulfiqar Khosa on Saturday appreciated people’s cooperation, diligence showed by all law enforcement agencies and other government departments for protecting the life and property of citizens during Ashura.
He highlighted the role played by the police, rangers, armed forces, special branch, Anti-Terrorism Department and other government departments in ensuring a peaceful Ashura. He also appreciated the unprecedented cooperation shown by the people in this regard. He further said the same security plan will be followed until ‘Chehlum’, during Christmas and ‘Eid Miladunabi’.
Khosa said more than 36,000 majlises and 11,500 processions were taken out during the first ten days of Muharram. In addition to 140,000 police officials, 10,000 army personnel, three helicopters, 2,000 rangers, civil defense, rescue 1122 and other security personnel were deployed to provide security to mourners across Punjab.
He said the chief minister released Rs 100 million to the police department to purchase walk through gates and metal detectors, besides giving funds for meals and tea of officials deployed. He also proposed that the Cabinet Committee should give performance certificates to on-duty security personnel by the chief minister, adding that a ‘lavish dinner’ should be organized at all district headquarters as a token of appreciation.
“The chief minister will also be invited on one of these dinners, with the MPAs and ministers who performed duties during Muharram,” Khosa said. Talking to reporters after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee at 90 The Mall, Khosa also appreciated the media’s role for ‘cooperating with the administration’ and thanked them for ‘responsible journalism’.
Law minister Rana Sanaullah, chief minister’s advisor Jehanzaib Burki, home secretary, information department additional secretary, I&C secretary and other members of the Cabinet Committee were also present. He highlighted the cooperation offered by religious scholars in ensuring peace.
“Especially the people’s cooperation is noteworthy, as they faced a lot of inconvenience due to a ban on pillion riding as part of the security guidelines,” he said. Interior minister Rehman Malik also called up the provincial home secretary, informing him of probable security threats. While the provincial special branch and Anti-Terrorism Department officials informed of these threats in time and the administration took proper steps to cope with them.
Sanaullah said if the people, politicians and the administration work as a team, the nation has the courage and capacity to fight terrorism and eliminate it.
