March, 17 2005	Thursday	06 Safar 1426

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BAHAWALPUR, March 16: Arrangements have been finalized for the visit of President Gen Pervez Musharraf for a public meeting at a local stadium on Friday. The district administration and police have impounded hundreds of buses and wagons to transport people to the venue. As impounding continued till late Wednesday night, commuters faced inconvenience. Most of the vehicles impounded the previous day have been sent to Hasilpur, Ahmedpur East, Yazman and Khairpur Tamewali tehsils where they have been put at the disposal of Nazims, who will further hand them over to union councils to ensure a maximum participation of the public.

The venue for the president’s public meeting and several city intersections are being bedecked with the president’s portraits and banners emblazoned with slogans. Punjab IGP Saadatullah Khan visited the venue the other day and reviewed security arrangements. DPO Arif Nawaz briefed the IGP on the arrangements, president’s route and parking of the vehicles.

Police teams from Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Rahim Yar Khan, Lodhran, Multan, Khanewal and Pakpattan will be deployed here to provide security around the stadium.

VEHARI: In Vehari, commuters protested against the district administration for impounding public transport vehicles.

Scores of people, including women, children and patients, were seen boarding trucks and other goods vehicles whose owners charged double the routine fare. Taxis and rickshaws also stuffed people and charged them at will.

Complaining against the administration, some drivers told this correspondent that the traffic police had forcibly impounded their vehicles. They said the district administration did not pay them for impounding their vehicles during Pervez Musharraf’s public meeting in Multan last month despite making a promise.