Lahore, Punjab Police have detained 2,623 individuals in a province-wide crackdown on criminal activities, following orders from Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif to suppress anti-social elements. This initiative, which began on February 26, encompasses Lahore and other districts, with the police conducting extensive search and combing operations.

According to Punjab Police, since the campaign’s inception, officers have carried out 5,400 operations across the province, during which approximately 165,000 people were questioned. The operations have led to the seizure of 105 pistols, 10 guns, eight rifles, and a significant quantity of ammunition. A spokesman for the Punjab Police reported that just in the last day, 49 operations were conducted, resulting in the questioning of 1,400 individuals and the detention of 63.

The Inspector General of Punjab Police has issued directives to continue these operations, particularly near sensitive locations such as informal settlements, hotels, inns, and bus stands. The aim is to target and eliminate networks of extremist and criminal elements along with their facilitators. Dr. Usman Anwar, the IGP, emphasized the necessity of eradicating organized crime by intensively targeting those involved in illegal activities.