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Top civil and military officials during a high-level huddle in Lahore decided to intensify military operations across the province on Sunday.
Participants of an apex committee meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to review law and order in the province resolved to rid the region of extremism, sectarianism, militancy and terrorism.
It was decided that recently launched country-wide military operation Raddul Fasaad would be ramped up, and the scope of Rangers, police and Counter-Terrorism Department operations widened.
The committee also directed law enforcement agencies to provide foolproof security to mosques, imambargahs and other places of worship in the province.
Earlier today, it was expected that a decision would be made regarding the venue for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) final, which was scheduled to be held in Lahore on March 5. However, no official announcement has been made as yet.
Due to security concerns following a recent wave of terror attacks in different parts of the country, including Lahore, there had been speculation that the PSL final may not be held in Pakistan after all.
Events and activities have been banned in areas surrounding Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium until March 5.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shaharyar Khan had said despite recent terror attacks in Lahore, the PCB was eager to hold the high-profile PSL final in the provincial capital. However, he had categorically stated that the final decision in this regard would rest with the government.
Read more: ‘PSL final in Lahore subject to govt permission’
PSL Chairman Najam Sethi had earlier promised Pakistani cricket fans that the PSL final would be held in Lahore, even in the absence of foreign players, if the fans did not want the venue to change following the recent bombings.
Also read: PSL final will be held in Lahore if the fans want, says Sethi
"The foreign players have refused to play the final in Lahore after Monday’s blast, but if the citizens of Pakistan want the final of PSL to be held in Lahore despite foreign players not participating in the final, then the final will be held in Lahore," said Sethi in his statement.
Participants of the apex committee meeting today included National Security Adviser Lieutenant General (retd) Nasir Khan Janjua, Commander Lahore Corps Lt Gen Sadiq Ali, Punjab Minister for Anti Terrorism Lt Col (retd) Sardar Ayub Khan Gadhi, Director General Rangers Punjab Azhar Naveed Hayat and other top military and civil leadership.
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On DawnNews
Feb 26, 2017 12:28pm
It must be held in Pakistan, with or without players who do not wish to play. It is their fundamental right to choose where they wish to play, and don't, so we can't judge them or question them for it. But, neither can anyone question our right to pick the venue for a league that solely belongs go us
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Feb 26, 2017 12:37pm
To hold the psl final in Pakistan is totally useless now. What do you think only by holding a match in Pakistan, the foreign teams are going to change their minds. They look at the entire situation in the country, not just the stadium. PSL committee won't be able to convince other teams by this.
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Feb 26, 2017 12:53pm
As a Indian I fully endorse PSL and it should be conducted in Lahore. Pakistan Government should provide fool proof security so that common people can watch the match peacefully. Sports is the place where human learn stay united and teaches the team spirit and sportsmanship.
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Feb 26, 2017 12:53pm
PSL final in Lahore will prove to be first drop of rain inshallah. ..
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Feb 26, 2017 01:07pm
Why our authorities are pressing hard to conduct the final in Lahore. Why not any other place in Pakistan ? Karachi is more peace ful than Lahore & the revenue will be much hire compare to Lahore.
This mind set to ignore Karachi is very bad attitude towards karachi residents.
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Feb 26, 2017 01:09pm
I wish the whole PSL would have held in pakistan, but I think in present clement no foreign player or team would want to come here in Lahore and play final i guess this time let this be in UAE for the sake of it
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Feb 26, 2017 01:18pm
Zimbabwe toured successfully despite terror attacks in lahore
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Feb 26, 2017 01:46pm
Not holding the PSL final is NOT a choice available to us. Else, for next 15 years, foreign teams will cite it as the reason for not playing in Pakistan.
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Feb 26, 2017 02:03pm
@Zealot they were paid insurance money brother
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Feb 26, 2017 02:23pm
It is not a child's play to play with lives of thousands of unsuspecting cricket spectators. Sanity must prevail with utmost security concern.
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Feb 26, 2017 02:22pm
Pakistan can give fool proof security. Nawaz and Shabaz Sharif drive with their drivers in Lahore withouth getting attacked, even though it is possible. If they give the same security to the players two-three days, PSL final will be a success. Nawaz Sharif drives from Raiwind to Lahore in car withouth any damage, and the players are supposed to be driven from a hotel in Lahore to the stadium. We will handle it! God PSL!
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Feb 26, 2017 02:44pm
If it is not held in Lahore the terrorists win the match.
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Feb 26, 2017 04:26pm
Cricket is not bread and butter for Pakistan.. Things won t change where ever the final is held.
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Feb 26, 2017 05:12pm
Amazing! Goes to show our sense of priorities. All the comments so far are about PSL. Not about security for the people or ensuring a safe environment for anyone to enjoy the games, or the government's inadequacy to handle normal law and order situation.
It won't be much fun if the stadium itself becomes a scene of another carnage. No one is thinking along those lines.
You get the leaders you deserve.
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Feb 26, 2017 05:22pm
Is PSL final bigger than PSL itself? If the well made elephant was displayed in the UAE, how big a deal it is to display its tail in Lahore? Get your priorities right.
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Feb 26, 2017 05:28pm
from the looks of things, the govt. looks reluctant in organizing the final in Lahore.
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Feb 26, 2017 05:29pm
Intensifying the operation will only shift the terrorist to another province and the problem will still be there. We need strict enforcement of laws on guns and explosives, after all what is the use of sophisticated guns and explosives in civilian hands!!
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Feb 26, 2017 05:34pm
@Qasim Bhatti both Nawaz and Shehbaz are pretty secure in the environment they have created for the rest of us.
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Feb 26, 2017 05:40pm
PSL final in Lahorr has become an ego issue.
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Feb 26, 2017 05:48pm
Hmmm that's so nice of you. How about Lal Majid clerics and his religious fanatics who supported APS attach?
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Feb 26, 2017 05:58pm
I wish the real culprits would be caught and not innocent pakhtuns in the name of terrorist.
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Feb 26, 2017 06:04pm
Just look at our capabilities, we can't decide a cricket match match location, very sad?
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Feb 26, 2017 06:05pm
Interesting... interesting ..unless we have the courage to denounce those who are behind those distorted ideologies. unless we have to courage to tell their sympathizers to layoff their hands . unless we have the courage to stop the proxy war on our soil.. And Above all ...Value the country and the life of the citizens more than the money. unless we run the government as government and not the private enterprise... or else the business would be as usual...
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Feb 26, 2017 06:24pm
What will the junior Sharif and any other civilian minister be doing in any security committee. they were telling us till now there was no security ptoblem in Punjab
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Feb 26, 2017 06:21pm
@athar Because if you have noted, since the last four years everything this government has done is only Lahore-centric. PMLN has proven times and again that it cannot be a party of Pakistan or even whole of Punjab.
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Feb 26, 2017 06:35pm
I'm sorry but why are we all so worried about PSL final !! Seriously we should more worried about safety of our people in the own country first
We people want to see cricket and basant in country then fighting against our enemies - I think it's time to set our priorities right if we couldnt please don't complain what happens next !!
Our rulers have no visions to bring back peace in our country so we will have to
Step up and sort this out by looking after our neighbourhood/town/cities.
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Feb 26, 2017 06:52pm
Safety first.
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Feb 26, 2017 06:58pm
Officials should not trivialize fun of the PSL final without foreign players as it is going to be entertaining with every match. If circumstances are not permitting final to be held in Lahore then it should be placed in Dubai or Sharjah as it is getting overwhelming support in these venues. If final is going to held in Lahore without foreign players than it will be injustice with people of UAE and foreign Players. And it will remain no more than a Super 8 t20 Domestic competition.
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Feb 26, 2017 08:00pm
nobody has in past or in current or future plans to catch and prosecute the hate mongers, the society is in peril. Nobody has done in past same people won't do in future also.
PSL etc is of minute consequence when people themselves are in danger and society itself is under threat.
I have no expectations of any authority from any province. Its open secret. Some foolishly stupid optimist that PSL final be 'first drop of rain' . What can one say to that. First drop of rain will not be any sports match but something else. When and IF it happens
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Feb 26, 2017 08:09pm
@Rebirth discretion is better part of valor.Lives of people are more important than a stupid final. Anyone who's bent upon disrupting the proceedings will stop at nothing.why endanger the lives of fans.
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Feb 26, 2017 11:12pm
continuous and comprehensive efforts are required to get the peaceful Pakistan.
only military operation cannot ring peace,for durable peace we have to strengthen our civil institution like police judiciary.
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Feb 26, 2017 11:39pm
It is clear that the authorities have to make foolproof security arrangements to hold the final in Lahore.
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Feb 27, 2017 01:40am
Inspector Gadget should step down.
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Feb 27, 2017 02:25am
@athar Nobody can make people like you happy. Now you comparing the city which is more peaceful between Lahore and Karachi. It does not matter what's going on in Lahore you want in Karachi. Every city in Pakistan should be loved if you are true Pakistani. It does not matter what, Metro Bus, Orange Train, and even CPEC mind like you always thing when not Karachi.
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Feb 27, 2017 02:55am
Even if the players have to be airlifted to and from the stadium and they play to an empty stadium, the final will be held in the venue that was originally agreed upon. We cannot, and will not back off from our word. This is now about us as a nation, whose only dignity and honor is reliant upon staying committed to our word. We cannot be Sadiq or Ameen, as Muslims, if we back off from this. Had we said the venue of the final is TBD, it would've been different. But since Lahore was decided, then that is what will need to happen. Either, we shouldn't have said Lahore or we don't back off. Can't have both. Can't say Lahore and then, back off. Had no venue been picked, such flip-flopping wouldn't have mattered.
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Feb 27, 2017 03:06am
@athar
Athar Sahib is absolutely right. Under present situation the venue may be shifted to Karachi where the life has changed and its are having more secured feeling even in late night hours.
May God keep Karachi peaceful !
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Feb 27, 2017 03:25am
Bring on the heat Military, its time to smoke out the cowards who consider killing the innocent a religious duty, not sure what they are being taught, in our faith and belief, we are not suppose to even hurt an animal.
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Feb 27, 2017 05:02am
PSL final should take place in Lahore with full security. In the long run though, it is in Pakistan's interest to clean up Punjab and make it free of terrorists and extremists. Most importantly, there should be no distinction between good and bad terrorists since they feed on each other.
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Feb 27, 2017 06:24am
@athar Its not about ignoring Karachi. Nawaz government does not trust any other province to provide security.
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Feb 27, 2017 08:13am
If this government had a vision, it would have extended the tenure of Raheel Sharif. Raheel was making progress and given a few more years, he would have made significant progress.
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Feb 27, 2017 09:20am
Whats the point.spend that money for the security of poor people instead of wasting it in getting one match done.our priorities have always been wrong.
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Feb 28, 2017 02:44am
They have no idea what to do as they have no plans and no policies to deal with terrorism and are instead harassing and terrorising Pukhtuns who live in their province .How would they feel is the shoe is on the other foot. You do not treat ethnic minority in such a degrading way. They are labelling all Pakhtuns as terrorists .There are good and bad people in all communities/nations. They must not discriminate on the basis of ethnicity/language .Pakhtuns are a fine nation. They are loyal, brave, honest but there is a limit. We must learn from our history. We have lost half of Pakistan in 1971 due to our narrow mindedness.
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