A full-fledged confrontation seems to be in the air as Punjab Governor Omer Sarfraz Cheema who earlier on Saturday has restored Usman Buzdar’s government, has written a letter to President Arif Alvi requesting him to send Rangers force to the Governor’s House to vacate it from the ‘occupation’ of the PML-N people, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

On the other hand, the PML-N government has deployed a heavy police contingent all around the building in order to thwart any possible protest by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Pakistan Muslim League-Q during the scheduled swearing-in ceremony of Chief Minister-elect Hamza Shehbaz at Governor’s House, Lahore at 11:30am today to be performed by National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf as directed by LHC Justice Jawad Hassan in his order passed on Friday.

DIG Operations Dr Abid Khan visited the Governor’s House, CM Secretariat and adjacent areas to review the security arrangements. 

SSP Operations Mustansar Feroz gave security briefing. He said that more than 1,000 policemen were deployed to perform the security duty. Water cannons have been brought to the venue and roads leading to the area have been sealed with barbed wires, he added. 

Meanwhile, CCPO Bilal Siddique Kamyana has ordered the police force to put the security on high alert all across the city especially around the Governor’s House and Chief Minister Secretariat. 

He said providing security to the life and property of people was the top most priority of police. He said nobody would be allowed to take law in his hand. 

Also Read: Ahead of Hamza’s oath-taking, Punjab governor rejects Buzdar resignation

He directed to provide full security to the guests coming to the Governor’s House to attend CM-elect Hamza’s oath-taking ceremony. He said guests would be allowed to enter the Governor’s House after running identity checks on them. No unconcerned person or vehicle would be allowed to enter the premises, he added.

The CCPO ordered to increase patrolling of Dolphin squad, Pero teams on all the adjacent thoroughfares leading to the Governor’s House. 

NA speaker arrives

National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf arrived in Lahore and was on his way to Governor’s House to administer oath to CM-elect Hamza Shehbaz.

According to 24NewsHD TV channel, about 1,000 guests have been invited to attend the oath-taking ceremony and many of the guests including senior PML-N leader have already arrived at the venue.

All the roads leading to Punjab Assembly have been closed. The Mall Road on which the Governor’s House is situated and the Chairing Cross have been closed for all kinds of traffic.

 

Reporters Qazzafi Butt and Faran Yameen