LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has given the Inspector General of Punjab Police a one-week deadline to identify and remove corrupt elements from the police force, directing authorities to take decisive action against officials accused of misconduct and corruption.
The directive was issued during an important meeting on law and order chaired by the chief minister. The meeting reviewed the overall security situation in Punjab, crime trends, police performance, and measures aimed at improving public safety.
Maryam Nawaz ordered that police officers with a reputation for corruption or misconduct should not be appointed as station house officers (SHOs). She directed the Punjab police leadership to adopt a strict approach towards officials involved in corrupt practices and ensure that personnel entrusted with important field positions meet the required standards of integrity and professionalism.
The chief minister gave the Punjab IG one week to identify and take action against corrupt elements within the police department. The move is aimed at strengthening accountability and improving public confidence in the law-enforcement system.
Maryam Nawaz also placed particular emphasis on crimes against children and women. She directed the authorities to prepare a comprehensive plan to control such crimes and ordered a zero-tolerance policy against individuals involved in offences targeting women and children.
She described the protection of children and women as a non-negotiable priority, stressing that no person involved in crimes against them should be spared. The chief minister said maintaining law and order was the government’s first priority and that the state must fulfill its responsibility to protect the lives and property of citizens.
During the meeting, officials also discussed the operational structure of the Dolphin Police. It was decided that operational control of Dolphin Police units would be linked with the relevant police stations. The measure is intended to improve coordination between field units and local police and potentially enable a faster response to incidents.
Another major decision concerned the use of body cameras by Punjab Police. The chief minister directed that the provincial police force be equipped with body cameras by September 30. The initiative is expected to improve transparency in police operations, strengthen accountability, and provide an objective record of interactions between officers and members of the public.
The meeting also considered security arrangements for prisoners. Maryam Nawaz ordered strict action over incidents involving the escape of prisoners and approved the installation of GPS tracking systems and cameras in prisoner vans. Such technology could help authorities monitor prisoner transportation more effectively and improve security during transfers.
The chief minister further directed police authorities to take effective measures to reduce burglary and related property crimes. She called for stronger action against criminal networks and instructed authorities to conduct a comprehensive cleanup operation in Sheikhupura with the objective of eliminating crime from the district.
Punjab Inspector General of Police briefed the meeting on the province’s crime situation and presented figures indicating a decline in several major categories of crime. According to the briefing, robbery cases had decreased by 54 percent, murder cases by 35 percent, car robbery cases by 46 percent, and motorcycle theft cases by 53 percent.
The figures were presented as evidence of improvements in the law-and-order situation. However, the chief minister made it clear that police performance would continue to be assessed on the basis of crime levels in individual districts.
Maryam Nawaz said district police officers would be held accountable in areas where crime rates remained high. She directed senior police officials to ensure that declining crime figures translated into greater safety for ordinary citizens rather than remaining limited to official statistics.
The chief minister emphasized that protecting children and women would remain a particular priority for her administration. She warned that no one involved in crimes against these vulnerable groups would be forgiven and called for firm action against offenders.
The decision to give the Punjab IG a one-week deadline reflects the government’s stated intention to strengthen internal accountability within the police department. Corruption among law-enforcement personnel can undermine public trust and weaken the effectiveness of policing, particularly when officers accused of misconduct are placed in positions involving direct contact with the public.
The proposed use of body cameras is also expected to play a role in addressing concerns about police conduct. If properly implemented, body-worn cameras can provide evidence during police-public interactions and may help resolve disputes regarding the conduct of officers and citizens.
Similarly, the installation of GPS systems and cameras in prisoner vans is aimed at closing security gaps during prisoner transportation. Monitoring vehicles in real time could make it easier for authorities to track their movements and respond quickly to emergencies.
The government’s focus on Sheikhupura and burglary-related crimes indicates an effort to target areas and offences where citizens continue to face security concerns. Effective policing will ultimately depend not only on operations but also on investigations, prosecution, accountability, and consistent enforcement of the law.
Maryam Nawaz reiterated that law and order was the government’s first priority. She said the authorities would fulfill their responsibility to protect the lives and property of the people.
The measures announced during the meeting represent a combination of internal police accountability, technological monitoring, targeted crime operations, and greater attention to vulnerable groups. Their success will depend on how effectively the directives are implemented at the district and police-station levels.
With the Punjab government setting specific deadlines for police reforms and technology deployment, senior police officers will now face greater responsibility for delivering measurable improvements. The one-week deadline for identifying corrupt elements and the September 30 deadline for equipping the police with body cameras provide clear timelines for implementation.
The chief minister’s latest directives indicate that the Punjab government intends to make police accountability and public safety central components of its law-and-order strategy, with particular emphasis on reducing crime and protecting women and children.
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