FAISALABAD: Local PML-N MPs have expressed their concern over involvement of some policemen in crime as was revealed after the arrest of some members of a gang.

The parliamentarians spoke their heart out during a meeting headed by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and demanded an inquiry into police involvement in target killers’ gang.

The CM expressed his annoyance over the situation and directed IGP Mushtaq Ahmed Sukhera to launch an inquiry.

During a visit to the city on Saturday, the CM reached the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) for inauguration of women’s hostel, where he exclusively talked to MPs on the law and order situation.

MNA Dr Nisar Jutt told Dawn that the MPs informed the CM that former SHO Farrukh Waheed, who has been found leading a gang of target killers, used to torment local public representatives by registering cases against them and thrashing traders and other people publicly. He said it was an open secret as to who was patronising him but no action was taken against him.

He said the parliamentarians had requested the CM to order action against Waheed, the ringleader of the gang which had confessed to killing 19 people.

Dr Nisar said many other policemen were working in the same fashion in the district and no action was being taken against them although senior police officers were well aware of their conduct.

At a press conference on Thursday last, City Police Officer Sohail Habib Tajik had told reporters that police had arrested some members of a target killers’ gang headed by former SHO Farrukh Waheed. He said the gang confessed to killing Bhola Gujjar, a close associate of former Punjab law minister Rana Sanaullah, and others.

State Minister for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali told the media that the CM had been apprised of the gang’s presence in the city and that it was planning to kill politicians and traders. He said the CM had been urged to form a joint investigation team featuring Intelligence Bureau, ISI and other relevant departments to arrest all members of the gang.

The SHO would be brought back to Pakistan through Interpol and the chief minister would personally monitor the case, he said.

UAF VISIT: Speaking to a gathering at the UAF, the chief minister said drinking water would be provided to rural population within three years. He said rural development including farm-to-market project, provision of clean water and energy were priorities of the Punjab government.

He said rural development was directly linked to poverty alleviation and the government had initiated a new project to facilitate farmers. In the first phase, Rs15 billion would be spent and the amount would be increased to Rs150 billion in next three years.

Shedding light on Pak-China relations, he said the Chinese government would spend $45 billion in Pakistan that would help raise standard of life and open up new avenues of employment and trade. He urged students to learn the Chinese language so that they could learn from the experiences of the Chinese and further strengthen bilateral ties.

He said many development programmes worth Rs10 billion had been kicked off to provide facilities to the people of the district. These included establishment of canal expressway, two underpasses, children’s hospital and Haseeb Shahid hospital.

UAF Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad said establishment of girls hostel for 1,000 students funded by the Punjab government was an achievement as it’s the biggest girls’ hostel in Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play