Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has said that no society can progress without supremacy of merit, justice and law. He said that Punjab government has adopted merit policy in police and other departments, as it is essential for survival. He said that police stations will have to become centers for redressal of grievances of the aggrieved. He said that like others, the sector for provision of justice has also been facing a decline and the situation will have to be changed. He said that time has come to change the culture of sale of justice in police stations and Kutcheries. He appealed to senior police officers and police force to uphold justice at any cost. He said that salaries of subordinate judiciary and police have been increased and additional expenditure of billions of rupees is being borne. The Chief Minister announced to upgrade Constable from grade 5 to 7, Head Constable from 7 to 9, ASI from 9 to 11 and create 13000 additional vacancies of Head Constable rank to give incentives to 1.25 lakh police force. Similarly, financial assistance for the families of police martyrs laying down their lives in fighting terrorism has been increased from Rs 50 lakh to Rs. one crore. Moreover, an increase of 50 lakh rupees has been made in the financial assistance for the heirs of those police officers who will embrace martyrdom in the war against terrorism. The Chief Minister also announced to construct a memorial for martyrs of police in a big park.
He was addressing Police Darbar at Elite Police Training School Bedian, today. The Chief Minister said that Punjab police has made commendable efforts for the protection of life and property of people, therefore, more incentives are being announced for police force. He said that construction work of the memorial in a big park to commemorate sacrifices of police martyrs will be started immediately. He said that 13000 new Head Constables will be made in police on seniority-cum-performance basis. He said that after Elite Force, Punjab government has set up Counterterrorism Force for which Inspector General Police, Home Department and other institutions have worked with coordination. He said that such a force has been formed with the collaboration of different institutions as is ready to make any sacrifice for the protection of people and takes enemies of peace, terrorists and extremists to their logical end. He said that the role of police force in safeguarding citizens will always remembered and due to its efforts people are living in peace. He said that there was an impression a few years ago that police was incapable to meet the challenge of terrorism but the situation has changed in Punjab. He said that Police Force, Elite Police and Counterterrorism Force have written a new history of courage and bravery in the war against terrorism which is appreciated all over the country. He said that there is room for further improvement which can be brought about with hard work, honesty and commitment. The Chief Minister said that on the instructions of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on 2013 elections, work was started for setting up Counterterrorism Force and progress is being made with commitment and determination for realizing the vision of the prime minister. He said that splendid successes have been achieved in the war against terrorism due to hard work and courage of Pak Army, Police force, Elite Force and other ecurity agencies. He said that Counterterrorism Force has been trained on modern lines and officer and Jawans of security institutions are performing their duties with a spirit of martyrdom in the war against terrorism and crime. He said that menace of terrorism will have to be rooted out to come up to the expectations of the people. He said that though it is difficult task yet can be achieved with determination. The Chief Minister said that when Pakistan Muslim League-N came into power in Punjab in 2008 is was decided on the instructions of Nawaz Sharif to enhance salaries of subordinate judiciary and police so that they could perform their duties regarding protection of life and property of people with a peace of mind. He said that when it was decided to increase salaries of police in 2008, he was told that it would put additional burden of eight billion rupees on Punjab government. However, he said, he took this decision as it concerned supremacy of justice. Shehbaz Sharif said that 60000 recruitments are being made in Police department annually on merit basis while the same policy is being adopted in other departments. He said that due to merit policy, educated youth of the poor families are joining police and other departments. He said that Punjab government has also given a splendid package for the families of police martyrs to save them from financial problems. He said that only those nation can progress as can any face challenge with courage and bravery. Shehbaz Sharif said that highly competent and educated youth are joining Police Force and it is his appeal to them to play an active role for provision of justice to the aggrieved. He said that time has come to change Thana culture. Shehbaz Shairf said that CPEC is a game changer for Pakistan and those trying to cause delay in CPEC project should mend their ways. He said that Pakistan cannot afford politics of protest and chaos. The Chief Minister said that no one will be allowed to create hurdles in the process of national development or take law in his own hands. He said that 800 more Sub-Inspectors will be recruited while a special unit has been formed for the protection of Chinese engineers working on CPEC project. He said that this unit comprises 5000 officials but their number will soon be increased to 10000. He said that now after 70 years, the common man feels that situation is satisfactory and Pakistan of Quaid and Iqbal is going to become a reality. The Chief Minister stressed upon police to spare no effort for the protection of CPEC. He said that those who got the visit of Chinese President postponed in 2014, have again come out and want to hinder the process of national progress and prosperity. He said that CPEC is aimed at prosperity of future generations and has to be completed at any cost. Inspector General Police Mushtaq Sukhera also addressed the ceremony. Provincial Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan, Secretary Home, senior police officials, police Jawans and lady police officers were also present on the occasion.