In the wake of prevailing security threats to the leaders of political parties, the law enforcement agencies have intensified security in the provincial capital by deploying Rangers and police ahead of return of Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) supreme leader Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz from London today (Friday) at the Lahore Airport.
The entry and exit points of the metropolis have been sealed by placing containers to restrict entry of the PML-N workers and supporters coming from other parts of the province to welcome their leader. Ravi Bridge, Saggian Bridge, Sherakot, Thokar Niaz Baig, Bhatta Chowk, Chungi, Niazi Shaheed Chowk, Gajju Matta and all intersections of Ring Road leading towards the airport will be closed and the security duties of these points will be executed or supervised by Rangers and Elite Force. A shuttle service will be run to transport people to the airport. However, the airport administration advised the passengers to reach there at least six hours before the departure.
Headed by the Director General NAB Lahore, a team comprising nine officials of NAB and five officials of police has been constituted to take Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam into custody upon arrival at the Allama Iqbal International Airport and safely transport them to Islamabad through a helicopter. The Punjab caretaker government also imposed Section-144 to avoid any untoward incident. The cellular service will be closed partially in the city.
Deputy Inspector General of Police (Operations) Shahzad Akbar confirmed to reporters that police have so far taken into custody over 150 'miscreants' of different political parties who have criminal history in order to maintain peace in the city. He said they would not allow anyone to take law into their hands and all SPs have been ordered to take strict action against such persons of political parties.
"Those who found violating the Election Commission's code of conduct should consider themselves behind the bars," the DIG warned, asserting that they would ensure peaceful elections at any cost. He commented that the 'miscreants' are damaging strength of the political parties by taking law into their hands. However, he assured that police will provide 'foolproof' security to 'peaceful' workers, supporters or leaders of parties.
He said over 10,000 cops will perform security duties in the city. All SPs and SHOs have been directed to intensify patrolling in their respective jurisdictions so that they could hunt down non-state actors, DIG Akbar added.
In this context, the Superintendent of Central Jail Lahore has also written a letter (No. JB/CJ-Lahore/2018/) to the Punjab Home Department and the Inspector General of Prisons Punjab and other higher authorities informing them that a total 64 workers or supporters of the PML-N having criminal history have been detained for a period of 30 days under Sub-Section (1) of Section-3 of the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, 1960, by the orders of your good office.
The letter contain in detail the name of detained workers or supporters having their residential addresses, designations or status, health condition and nature of offenses. Interestingly, the health condition of all the detained ones was marked as 'good'.
On Wednesday, IGP Punjab Syed Kaleem Imam while chairing a high-level meeting at the Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) expressed his fear that illegal, unregistered and smuggled vehicles are likely to be used in terror activities and he subsequently directed to initiate an indiscriminate crackdown against these off-grid vehicles and categorically asked CCPO, DIG Operations and all DPOs in Punjab to expedite action. All such vehicles and their owners are to be rigorously reported in writing to the Headquarters once captured, he added.
Earlier this week, the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta) revealed the names of six persons including Imran Khan and Hafiz Saeed's son who could be targeted by terrorists during the ongoing election campaign.
"Six people include Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan, Awami National Party leaders Asfandyar Wali and Ameer Haider Hoti, Qaumi Watan Party Chief Aftab Sherpao, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl leader Akram Khan Durrani and Hafiz Saeed's son Talha Saeed. Moreover, there are threats to senior leadership of the Pakistan People's Party and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz," Nacta Director Obaid Farooq had said while briefing the Senate Standing Committee on Interior.