Daily Times

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the authorities concerned to ensure foolproof security arrangements for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches scheduled to be held at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

The chief minister issued these directives while presiding over a high-level meeting to review the law and order situation on Friday.

The meeting strongly condemned the Raiwind blast and paid a glowing tribute to the sacrifices of police officials and other martyrs. It also prayed for the departed souls.

Interim report on the Raiwind blast was also presented in the meeting. Security for PSL matches to be held in Lahore, along with other matters, also came under review.

Shehbaz Sharif while issuing directives for peaceful and safe holding of PSL matches said that the enthusiasts would get a chance to witness best cricket in Lahore. International cricket is being revived in Pakistan, he added.

He said that foolproof security should be provided to players. He expressed the satisfaction that due to the efforts and sacrifices of Pak Army, police and other law enforcement agencies, the incidents of terrorism have been sufficiently decreased. He said that Raiwind blast was a brutal conspiracy to destabilise the country. The immortal sacrifices of police officials and other martyrs, who have lost their lives in this attack, will not go wasted and all of our sympathies are with the bereaved families.

He said that foolproof security arrangements for PSL-3 matches would be ensured at every cost and all the departments will have to make the best arrangements with their collective efforts and by maintaining a close liaison with each other. “The enemy does not want the nation to joy but we will fail the nefarious designs with our collective efforts and vision.”

The chief minister said that best cleanliness arrangements should also be made inside and outside the stadium and continued supply of electricity should be ensured. He said the match route, along with the whole city of Lahore, should be illuminated through lights.

Provincial Ministers Rana Sanaullah, Mian Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, Ayub Gadhi, Bilal Yasin, Jehangir Khanzada, Kh. Imran Nazir, Chairman PCB Najam Sethi, Chief Secretary, ACS (Home), IG Police, Secretaries of the concerned departments and other officials attended the meeting.

Separately, the chief minister expressed deep sorrow and grief over the death of sister of Ataul Haq Qasmi, a renowned columnist and intellectual.

In a condolence message, the chief minister prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and grant of courage to the bereave family to bear the irreparable loss.

Published in Daily Times, March 17^th 2018.