PM directs Punjab Police to shun political pressure.

LAHORE -- Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday directed the Punjab Police Inspector General Inam Ghani not to succumb to any political pressure and utilise all resources to protect the lives and property of citizens.

'No one is above the law. Police personnel should not succumb to any political influence or pressure', the PM remarked while chairing a meeting on police reforms and performance of the Punjab Police here.

Imran Khan regretted that political appointments made in the police during the previous regimes adversely impacted the performance of the department.

The Prime Minister in his day-long visit to the provincial capital chaired meetings on agriculture reforms, economic development and law and order situation in Punjab. The Prime Minister also launched a new inspection-less regime in Lahore to facilitate growth of industries and also the small and medium enterprises. He also performed the groundbreaking of a project of dualization of Sheikhupura-Gujranwala Road on public-private partnership basis.

Also, Prime Minister Imran Khan and Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar met in Lahore and discussed the overall situation in Punjab. The meeting focused on the pace of development projects in Punjab.

In the meeting on police reforms, IGP Inam Ghani briefed the prime minister about the progress on reforms related to the Punjab Police and informed that proposals on financial autonomy of police stations and mechanism on reconciliatory council had been presented to the chief minister.

The prime minister asked the police chief to take strict action against police officials creating hurdles in the way of dispensing justice to the people. He also stressed the use of modern technology to control crimes while emphasising on resolving the problems of citizens on merit.

He noted that the treatment of police on the basis of equality and law would lead to satisfaction of citizens and asked the Punjab IGP to focus on improving the image of his department. Calling for postings and transfers on the basis of merit to ensure dispensation of justice, the prime minister stressed that appointing honest officials at important positions had its impact from top to the grassroots level. He said nabbing big criminals gave a warning to little offenders to refrain from indulging in crimes.

The prime minister expressed satisfaction over the performance of Punjab chief secretary and IGP.

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar and PM's Special Assistant...