Lahore: In a major enforcement push defined by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s strategy for a “Safe Punjab,” police forces across the province have significantly ramped up efforts to detain criminals, resulting in the arrest of over 181,000 individuals involved in various criminal activities this year.

According to Punjab Police announcement issued on 15 October 2024, the comprehensive operation has successfully apprehended 99,683 proclaimed offenders, including 17,290 high-priority Category A and 82,393 Category B criminals. The crackdown also targeted over 55,000 judicial fugitives, with 4,858 from Category A and 50,979 from Category B being arrested. Additionally, police efforts led to the detention of 26,000 target offenders, habitually involved in criminal activities, including 14,819 from Category A and 11,268 from Category B.

The operations have been particularly intense in Lahore, where a total of 57,000 criminals, including 21,306 proclaimed offenders and 24,767 judicial fugitives, have been detained. Police teams have also managed to extradite 83 high-profile offenders wanted for serious crimes from abroad.

IG Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar praised the effectiveness of the police teams and directed further intensification of the crackdown. He emphasized the crucial role of effective investigations in accelerating case resolutions and securing convictions, instructing Regional and District Police Officers to closely monitor ongoing operations and report back to the Central Police Office.