Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said the protests of the people of Punjab over the agonising load shedding and unjustified treatment is a natural reaction.
The chief minister was presiding over a high level meeting held at the Minar-e-Pakistan Camp Office on Thursday in which a comprehensive review was taken of the overall law and order situation in the province in the wake of the protest movement.
However, he pointed out, violence, ransacking and looting will not be tolerated at all. He said public properties are national assets and no true patriot would like to damage them. He called upon the people to pinpoint the black sheep who were introducing the element of violence to foil the peaceful protest movement of the people against the cruel load shedding.
The meeting expressed its satisfaction over the significant improvement in the law and order situation. Senator Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa, provincial ministers Rana Sana Ullah, Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor, Malik Nadeem Kamran, parliamentarians, IG Punjab and other officers were also present on the occasion. Addressing the meeting, the CM said the people of Punjab are protesting over the corruption of the federal government, intolerable price-hike and torturous load shedding. He added that due to the inordinate load shedding, industries are closing, depriving the people of their livelihood and they have been reduced to the point of hunger.
However, the chief minister made a fervent appeal to the protestors not to damage public property and desist from violence, ransacking and arson. He warned that strict action will be taken against the elements which were found endangering human lives and damaging public property.
He directed that the control room should remain fully active in this regard and that the law and order situation be closely monitored. He directed that district coordination officers, police, local political leadership, peace committees, ulema and other dignitaries should play their role in keeping the protests peaceful. He asked Senator Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa to personally visit Gujranwala, Sahiwal and other affected areas to review the situation. IG Punjab informed the chief minister about the existing law and order situation in the province.
