GUJRAT: Following intelligence reports about an alleged plan to disrupt the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf public meeting to be held here on Friday (today), the district administration has got assurance from local cadre of the PTI and PML-N to ignore any instigation.

District Coordination Officer Liaqat Ali Chatta told Dawn on Thursday he held separate meetings with the local cadres of both parties and conveyed to them that any attempt to disrupt the law and order situation by any quarter would be dealt in accordance with the law.

He said there were intelligence reports that some miscreants were planning to disrupt the event and the peaceful atmosphere of the city.

DCO tells PTI, PML-N cadres to avoid instigation

He said both sides had pledged complete support in maintenance of law and order to the police and district administration.

Meanwhile, some local private educational institutions have announced holiday on Friday in view of expected traffic rush on the city roads due to arrival of rallies from various parts of the district and other cities.

The DCO said a medical camp for provision of first aid had been arranged at the centre of the venue, besides drinking water stalls for the participants.

On the direction of district administration, the organisers of the public meeting have fortified the galleries of the Zahoor Elahi Stadium’s pavilion by installing supportive iron pillars under the structure that was said to be weak.

The University of Gujrat students and other youngsters from different areas of the city separately took out rallies on Thursday to mobilise the public for participation in the public meeting.

PTI Coordinator Chaudhry Saleem Sarwar Jaura said more than 10,000 chairs had been arranged in the ground for women.

District Officer Coordination Shuja Qutab Bhatti paid a visit to the stadium along with the officials of the concerned departments to review the arrangements.

He said except for the main entrance of the stadium, all the remaining steel gates had been completely removed from to avoid a stampede.

Gujrat DPO Rai Ijaz said that some 2,400 policemen would be deployed in the city, especially in and around the venue, for security purposes.

Gujranwala Regional Police Officer Dilawar Shah and Commissioner Shumail Khawaja also paid a visit to the venue to inspect preparations for the meeting.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2014