LAHORE: Caretaker Chief Minister Punjab, Najam Sethi has said that competent and professional officers have been posted throughout the province in accordance with the instructions of the Election Commission.
He directed administration and police officers to perform their duties without caring for any political pressure as the fair and peaceful conduct of general elections is the top priority of the government and the appointment of impartial officers has been made for this purpose.The Chief Minister issued instructions for evolving a comprehensive security plan for general elections keeping all aspects in view. He directed that all necessary measures should be taken for ensuring security.
He was presiding over a high level meeting at Chief Minister’s Secretariat on Monday which was attended by Provincial Home Minister, Chief Secretary Punjab, Secretary Home, Inspector General Police Punjab, all divisional commissioners and regional police officers.Addressing the meeting, Chief Minister Najam Sethi said that a completely non-political and impartial administrative machinery has been posted at the lower level on the pattern of the neutral caretaker setup at the provincial level so that there is no doubt about the transparency of general elections which is a national responsibility of caretaker government.
He said that Chief Secretary and Inspector General Police Punjab have been given a free hand with regard to postings and transfers in the province for the purpose of achieving the objective of fair and transparent conduct of elections. He directed newly posted officers to perform their duties in an impartial and professional manner and nepotism should be discouraged. He further directed that all officers should discharge their responsibilities in accordance with rules and regulations and pay no attention to political or administrative pressures.
He said that caretaker government will not take any step in contravention of law nor allow anyone to do so. He said that all out cooperation will be extended to Election Commission for the conduct of transparent elections. He said that general elections are of utmost importance for the nation and a test case for the new administration and police officers of Punjab who will have to come up to the expectations at any cost.
Sethi said that for the purpose of maintaining a direct contact with Election Commission, a cell is being established at Chief Minister’s Secretariat which will convey the guidelines of the Election Commission to the concerned authorities. The Chief Minister further directed that special attention should be paid to terrorism, sectarianism and other aspects while evolving a security plan and all out measures should be taken for the security of political leaders as well as election meetings and rallies as the goal of peaceful conduct of elections can only be achieved by maintaining law and order. – DailyTimes
