LAHORE: Punjab Inspector General of Police Dr Usman Anwar on Friday denied that Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) chief Saad Rizvi and his brother Anas Rizvi were in police custody, saying they were “freed by their associates” during the recent Muridke protest when security forces dispersed a rally of the banned religious group.
Speaking at a press conference, the IG said that if the two men surrendered to the law, action would be taken against them in accordance with legal procedures.
Earlier, police in Muridke and Sheikhupura registered four separate FIRs against Saad Rizvi, Anas Rizvi, senior members of the party’s consultative council, and other TLP workers. The cases include charges of incitement, arson, violence, spreading hatred against state institutions, and provoking people to rise against the government. Police have so far arrested 108 suspects in connection with the unrest.
The development follows the federal government’s notification officially banning the TLP under the Anti-Terrorism Act, citing evidence of the group’s involvement in terrorism.
Addressing the province’s broader security situation, IG Anwar said the Punjab Police were determined to eradicate crime and were conducting an extensive crackdown against those possessing illegal weapons. He added that the Punjab government had established the Crime Control Department (CCD) to strengthen policing and crime management, introducing several reforms aimed at improving operational efficiency.
He claimed a 70 per cent reduction in the overall crime rate across Punjab and said the “Daala culture” — referring to organized criminal networks — was being dismantled. The police, he added, had also introduced a modern drone surveillance system to aid field operations.
Anwar highlighted that the provincial government had invested billions in the police force, including Rs1.5 billion for upgrading border check posts, and asserted that all postings and transfers were made strictly on merit.
Additional IG CCD Sohail Zafar Chattha, speaking alongside the IG, said the CCD had adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards serious crimes and was coordinating closely with other law enforcement agencies. He reported a 49 per cent drop in murder cases and a 62 per cent decline in vehicle-snatching incidents across Punjab.
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Chattha also announced that the provincial government had given a 15-day grace period for the voluntary surrender of illegal weapons, assuring that individuals complying within the timeframe would not face legal consequences.
Meanwhile, official sources said the Punjab government has decided to replace IG Dr Usman Anwar. Three senior officers — Bilal Siddique Kamyana, Waseem Sial, and Akbar Nasir Khan — are reportedly being considered for the post, with Kamyana emerging as the frontrunner.
According to sources, the reshuffle is being discussed in view of the province’s overall law and order situation and developments in Muridke, where the recent police operation against TLP supporters has drawn significant attention.
The decision, if confirmed, would mark a key development in Punjab’s ongoing law enforcement and administrative reforms.
