Web Desk (July 13, 2018): Caretaker Home Minister of Punjab, Shaukat Javed said on Friday that cellular and internet services have been suspended due to security concerns.
Addressing a presser in Lahore, Interim Home Minister Shuakat Javed defended suspension of mobile phone services in Lahore and clarified that the steps taken by the provincial government were meant to ensure law and order in the city.
Shaukat Javed said that strict security measures have been taken in connection of arrival of former PM, Nawaz Sharif.
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He added that list of arrested persons was presented in Lahore High Court today.
Briefing the media persons, the minister said the PML-N has not sought permission from the authorities for the rally to welcome their leaders, Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz.
He said that only passengers and staff will be allowed to enter in the airport.
Earlier in the day, the mobile phone and internet services were suspended in various parts of Lahore ahead of Nawaz Sharif’s return from London today.
According to reports, the cellular services are being suspended by the government as part of security arrangements as the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz plans to welcome its supreme leader who is returning to serve a jail term handed by the accountability court.
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A letter from Punjab government is circulating on social media in which the Ministry of Interior has been requested to switch off the mobile phone services in certain areas of the metropolis that include: Lahore Airport, Walled City area, Shadra, Bari/Hadyara area, Nawaz Town area.
Some citizens have also complained of interruption in internet services.
President PML-N and former Chief Minister of Punjab, Shahbaz Sharif urged party workers to accord warm welcome to former Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz on their landing in Lahore today.
In his video message to party workers, Shahbaz Sharif said that he is in Lahore and waiting to welcome his party supremo.
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Shahbaz urged party workers to reach Lahore Airport in large numbers today.
Earlier in the day, hearing a PML-N petition against the arrests today, Justice Anwarul Haq inquired the Punjab Home Secretary and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Punjab Dr Syed Kaleem Imam if they had a list of the detained individuals.
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The home secretary responded by saying that 141 individuals had been arrested. The court then ordered the home department to immediately present the list of the detained individuals.
“Any actions that disturb the system should not be taken,” the court noted.
The IGP then informed the court that the arrests were made on account of terrorists.
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