Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif presided over a high level meeting here today which reviewed overall law and order situation in the province, progress in the cases of missing children and performance of Child Protection Bureau. The meeting also reviewed action against the persons involved in operating a private torture cell in Rahim Yar Khan. The Chief Minister while taking stern action over torture of citizen in a private torture cell in Rahim Yar Khan ordered immediate suspension of DSP, SHO and the entire staff of Police Station B-Division Rahim Yar Khan. He directed that stern action should be taken under the law against DSP, SHO and the staff of police station and a case be registered against them. He further directed that immediate legal action be taken against the persons influencing the case and they be arrested. Shehbaz Sharif said that the system should immediately come into action over incidents of heinous nature and warned that police officer concerned will be held responsible if any such incident took place in future. He said that SHO in spite of being in knowledge has committed a criminal act by not providing information to DPO. The Chief Minister while directing to set up a special taskforce with regard to missing children ordered that a report should be submitted to him regularly regarding its performance. He said that strict surveillance of areas with a higher rate of missing children should be ensured and the best police officers and staff should be posted in such areas. He said that additional police force should be deputed at bus stands, railway stations, parks and others places of rush. He ordered effective implementation of the strategy evolved for this purpose for curbing such incidents. The Chief Minister appreciated the efforts of Child Protection Bureau with regard to recovery of missing children and handing them over to their families and said that the bureau is playing an active role to check violence against children. He said that Child Protection Bureau is also showing good performance with regard to ridding the children of psychological problems. He said that Child Protection Bureau and police will have to work more efficiently for recovering missing children and uniting them with their families. The meeting was briefed that 767 children were lost or kidnapped during current year out of which 721 have been recovered and have joined their families. The meeting was further told that eight accused including the main accused operating private torture cell have been nabbed while raids are being conducted for apprehending the absconding accused. Special Assistant Rana Maqboold Ahmed, Chairperson Child Protection & Welfare Bureau Saba Sadiq MPA, Chief Secretary, Inspector General Police, Secretary Home, Secretary Law, Commissioner Lahore Division and senior police officers attended the meeting.
