Anti-judiciary protest: Shahbaz suspends two officials, PML-N office-bearer

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Friday suspended two officials and a local office-bearer of PML-N from their posts over a protest against judiciary.

Over 70 workers of the PML-N, including some lawmakers, were booked in two separate cases for their protest against judiciary and state institutions. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi had taken strict notice of the protest and directed PML-N chief whip Sheikh Aftab to take disciplinary action against the party members involved in the incident. Those suspended on Friday included Nasir Khan, chairman of district treasury, and Jameel Khan, in-charge of Hilal-e-Ahmar, in the district.

The chief minister also suspended Rana Asad who was the PML-N’s local chapter president in the Khuddian area of Kasur. On the other hand, Shahbaz chaired a meeting which accorded approval to Ramazan Package 2018 to provide relief to the people during the holy month. The meeting also reviewed prices and provision of essential items.

Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said subsidy to the tune of Rs 11 billion would be provided for the provision of flour to the people during this month. A 20 kg bag of flour would be available in Ramazan bazaars and in the open market at the price of Rs 500 and the 10 kg bag at Rs 250. More than 300 subsidised Ramazan bazaars are to be established during the holy month. Meanwhile, 32 model bazaars will also operate as subsidised Ramazan bazaars.

As many as 2000 Dasterkhwan will also be established across the province to provide free Sehr and Iftar. Pulses, ghee, sugar, fruit and vegetables will be available at subsidized rates in subsidized Ramazan Bazaars. Agri-fair price shops will also be set up where pulses and vegetables will be available less than the market rates.

The chief minister directed that effective measures should be adopted to provide essential items at subsidised rates besides their ample supply to the people. The meeting was given a briefing, during which it was said that a trend of price stability of essential items and their decrease has been witnessed before the advent of Ramazan.