Punjab CM wants foolproof security for PSL matches

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Friday chaired a meeting to review the law and order situation.

According to a handout, the meeting condemned the Raiwind blast and paid tributes to sacrifices of police officials and other martyrs. The interim report of the blast was presented in the meeting.

Security for PSL matches to be held in Lahore also came under discussion. Shahbaz directed that peaceful holding of PSL matches be ensured. He said people would get a chance to witness best cricket in Lahore. He said due to the efforts and sacrifices of the Pak Army, the police and other law-enforcement agencies, the incidents of terrorism decreased in the country.

He said the Raiwind blast was a conspiracy to destabilize the country. The sacrifices of policemen and other martyrs would not go waste. He said foolproof security arrangements for PSL-3 matches would be ensured at every cost and all departments concerned would have to make collective efforts. He directed that the Cabinet Committee should supervise all security arrangements and cleanliness be ensured in and outside the stadium. Besides, continued supply of electricity to the stadium should be ensured during matches.

He said the teams’ route and the whole city should be illuminated. He said security arrangements should also be improved in other cities of the province. The meeting decided to run a special shuttle bus service to carry cricket fans to the stadium free of cost.

Rana Sanaullah, Mujtaba Shujaur Rahman, Ayub Gadhi, Bilal Yasin, Jehangir Khanzada, Imran Nazir, Najam Sethi, the chief secretary, the ACS (Home), the IG Police, secretaries and other officials attended the meeting. Meanwhile, the CM expressed grief over the death of columnist Ataul Haq Qasmi’s sister. He prayed for the departed soul.