LAHORE, March 14: The Punjab government in its efforts to prevent the long march from proceeding to Islamabad continued to detain lawyers and leaders and workers of opposition political parties besides blockading highways in the province.

Inter-city transport came to a halt as the administration stopped buses from operating till further orders, causing inconvenience to thousands of people. Truck drivers also suspended their operation, affecting business and trade.

The highway police were instructed to search private cars and vehicles and detain people ‘thought to be’ leaving for Islamabad. Apart from highways, the police also blocked small arteries linking small cities and villages by placing containers and tractor trolleys that they had commandeered.

Pakistan Motor Transport Federation vice-president Naseer Butt told Dawn that 5,000 buses, coaches and wagons, operating from Badami Bagh General Bus Stand and Bakkar Mandi Bund Road Bus Stand, were parked following the police directives.

In Lahore, lawyers and opposition leaders were planning to assemble on Sunday morning at GPO Chowk on the Mall to start their long march. The main PML-N procession likely to be led by Mian Shahbaz Sharif, is expected to reach the venue at 11am.

CARCKDOWN: Police continued raids in Lahore and elsewhere in Punjab to detain office-bearers and activists of opposition parties and arrested dozens of them.

Party office-bearers said majority of their leaders and activists had already gone into hiding to avoid arrests and t would surface today (Sunday) and on Monday.

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