Administrative matters: Police told to keep away

LAHORE: The district administration will extend full support to the Pakistan Awami Tehreek in maintaining law and order, Model Town Assistant Commissioner Tariq Manzoor Chandio told The Express Tribune. He said the government had set up a stage in a football ground near the Minhajul Quran Secretariat, from where Tahirul Qadri addressed his supporters. He said the administration had installed around 500 lights in and around the venue with a 50KV backup generator in case of an electricity outage. Mobile phone jammers have also been placed around Qadri’s residence and the Minhajul Quran Secretariat.  He said the police had been ordered to stay away and security is being managed by PAT workers brandishing sticks. PAT workers have blocked all streets leading to Minhajul Quran Secretariat. The International Market near the secretariat has also been shut down by the market union. Shops and three fuel pumps on Abul Hassan Isfahani Road have also been closed on the request of the administration.  “We are sharing information regarding security with the PAT,” said Chandio.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 24^th, 2014.