LAHORE – Police and other law enforcement agencies have laid a siege to Lahore ahead of convicted former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s arrival in the provincial capital.
Sharif arrived in Islamabad from Dubai by a chartered plane on Saturday afternoon and he is set to address a public rally at Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore later in the evening.
دھرتی کا بیٹا، پاک سر زمین پر لوٹ آیا ہے 💚💚#خوش_آمدید_نوازشریف#TheEraOfNawazSharif pic.twitter.com/Iv8qD4nhqt
— PMLN (@pmln_org) October 21, 2023
In Lahore, police have blocked all roads leading to Sharif’s route from the Lahore air port to Minar-e-Pakistan by placing containers and concrete blocks. Sharif’s route has been checked for security, markets and shops have been closed and entry of public transport vehicles has been blocked.
Heavy contingents of Punjab Police have been deployed in the entire city and traffic wardens can be seen diverting traffic to various roads not linked to the Sharif’s route. As a result, residents of Lahore and those coming to capital city over the weekend for business purposes faced a great deal of inconvenience.
Earlier, clarifying reports that Sharif will first go to his Jati Umra resident in Lahore’s Raiwind area and then address his supporters at Minar-e-Pakistan at 7:00pm, former finance minister Ishaq Dar said Sharif will come directly to Minar-e-Pakistan from the Lahore airport at 5:00pm and leave for Raiwind after addressing the rally.
Taking to the microblogging site X, formerly known as Twitter, Dar wrote, “Clarification: On a media channel, there is news that Mian Nawaz Sharif will first go to Jati Umra and will later go to Minare Pakistani at 7pm. This new is NOT true. Mian Sb will arrive Minare Pakistan at 5pm today as per Program to address the Jalsa, InnshaAllah!”
Clarification:
On a media channel, there is news that Mian Nawaz Sharif will first go to Jati Umra and will later go to Minare Pakistani at 7pm. This new is NOT true.
Mian Sb will arrive Minare Pakistan at 5pm today as per Program to address the Jalsa, InnshaAllah!— Ishaq Dar (@MIshaqDar50) October 21, 2023
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