Punjab Chief Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi has declared that the police have been given “a free hand” to deal with the PTI hooligans and the writ of the government will be established at any cost, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Addressing a news conference in Lahore on Monday, Mohsin Naqvi also announced to constitute a joint investigation team (JIT) to probe the violent incidents that took place outside Zaman Park in Lahore. “The JIT will investigate the incidents within six to seven days,” he added.
He categorically stated that we would not let this happen that the policemen kept suffering beating at the hands of political vandals.
“I have instructed the officials that they can do whatever they want if they are subjected to violence,” Naqvi said asserting that ‘the government writ will be established at any cost’.
The chief minister narrated an incident in which a policeman was tortured badly (by the PTI workers) the other day when he was going back after finishing his duty. The PTI activists also threw the vehicle of Elite Force into the canal, he added.
He told the presser that they have got pictures of those involved in these incidents of terrorism.
“I’m standing by my police. If someone lays his hand on them, we will break his hand,” the CM said forcefully.
He said that the administration was trying to keep the atmosphere peaceful and wanted to avoid any loss of life.
“But no political workers do such things. Terrorists are residing in Zaman Park,” Naqvi maintained. He said that he had given a free hand to the police to establish state’s writ.
The Punjab caretaker chief minister said that he would write a letter to the Election Commission of Pakistan today apprising it of the situation.
Naqvi also announced Rs500,000 compensation to the police officials who got hurt during incidents of vandalism by the PTI workers.
Talking about providing some relief to poor masses during Ramazan, the chief minister said that free wheat flour was being supplied at thousands of distribution centres throughout Punjab.
Naqvi said so far over 800,000 flour bags had been distributed. “Every family will be given three flour bags,” he added.