The Punjab government on Friday was extremely indifferent to giving due protocol to President Asif Ali Zardari who was on a brief visit to Lahore to condole with families of victims who had died in a fire in a factory.

Those who received the president included Governor Latif Khan Khosa, leader of opposition in Punjab assembly Raja Riaz Ahmad, MPAs belonging to Pakistan Peoples Party and office-bearers. Punjab Chief Secretary Nasir Khosa and IGP Haji Habib-ur-Rehman were also present.

Interestingly, when the scribe contacted Law Minister Rana Sana and enquired him why they had not sent any minister to receive President Zardari, he responded that they had already deputed Minister for Industries Ch Ghafoor to receive him. When he was informed that Ghafoor was also not present at airport, he claimed he might have been be busy, otherwise, it was his duty to receive the President. When Ch Ghafoor was contacted, he expressed ignorance about the arrival of the president in Lahore and claimed that he had been in Islamabad for the last couple of days.