Saad Rizvi, Anas Rizvi ‘freed by their men’, says IG Punjab

LAHORE: Punjab Police Inspector General (IG) Dr Usman Anwar on Friday denied having Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) chief Hafiz Saad Rizvi and his brother Anas Rizvi in custody, saying they were “freed by their associates” — apparently referring to the Muridke protest earlier this month, when security forces dispersed the religious group’s rally during a night operation.

Addressing a press conference, the police IG said that if the two men surrendered to law, action would be taken against them in accordance with the law.

Earlier, Muridke and Sheikhupura police had registered a total of four FIRs against Saad Rizvi, Anas Rizvi, members of the party’s consultative council, and several other TLP workers.

All four cases accuse Saad Rizvi, Anas Rizvi, and other senior TLP leaders of incitement, arson, violence, spreading hatred against the government and state institutions, and provoking people to rise against the state.

According to the registered FIRs, police have arrested 108 suspects so far.

Earlier, the federal government issued a notification officially imposing a ban on the TLP.

During the press conference, IG Anwar said the Punjab Police were striving to eliminate crime across the province and that a crackdown was under way against those possessing illegal weapons.

He said Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had established the Crime Control Department (CCD) to strengthen policing and improve crime management. The police, he added, were actively maintaining law and order, with several reforms introduced to enhance efficiency.

The IG claimed a 70 per cent reduction in overall crime rate across Punjab, adding that the “Daala culture” — referring to criminal groups operating in certain areas — was being eradicated. He also said a modern drone surveillance system had been introduced to aid operations.

Anwar noted that the Punjab government had invested billions of rupees in the police force, including Rs1.5 billion allocated specifically for border check posts. All transfers and postings within the department, he said, were made on merit.

Additional IG CCD Sohail Zafar Chattha said the CCD, a part of the Punjab Police, had adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards serious crimes and was working closely with law enforcement agencies.

He reported a 49 per cent drop in murder cases and a 62 per cent decrease in vehicle-snatching incidents across the province.

Chattha also announced that the provincial government had given a 15-day deadline for surrendering illegal weapons voluntarily, assuring that those handing over firearms within this period would not face legal action.

Meanwhile, the Punjab government has decided to replace IG Dr Usman Anwar, sources told HUM News English.

According to sources, three senior officers are being considered for the top slot — Bilal Siddique Kamyana, Waseem Sial, and Akbar Nasir Khan — with a final decision expected in the coming days.

Sources said Bilal Siddique Kamyana is the strongest contender for the Punjab police chief position. They added that Dr Anwar’s replacement is being considered due to the overall law and order situation in Punjab as well as developments in Muridke.

Reports suggest that the recent operation against a religious group may also have influenced the decision.

The potential reshuffle is being viewed as a significant development in the context of law and order and ongoing police reforms in the province.

The Federal government has issued a notification officially imposing a ban on TLP