LAHORE: Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah has said there won’t be any curfew-like situation in Lahore during Pakistan Super League final on Sunday, however, security will be on high alert.

“There will be security on the route of the players -- from their hotel on The Mall to Qadhafi Stadium. But no other road in the city will be blocked. Security in Lahore has already been beefed up and on Sunday it will be on high alert,” Mr Sanaullah told a press conference here on Thursday.

He said from parking area to stadium a free shuttle service would be available to the spectators. Metro bus service would be operational till 1am to facilitate those coming to watch live cricket contest, he said and added no business outside the stadium was being closed.

The minister said Punjab government had nothing to do with the match tickets’ sale as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was hosting the final.

He said the war against terrorism would continue till elimination of the last terrorist. “The whole nation is united against terrorists and people are not afraid of any of their cowardly acts.”

PTI sees it as a ploy to shift focus from Panamagate verdict

Mr Sanaullah requested the media to show a “positive image” of the country during the PSL final and ignore coverage of politicians like Sheikh Rashid.

To a question about reports of discrimination against Pakhtun people during ongoing operation against militants, the minister said it was a propaganda as the Pakhtun were not being harassed in Punjab. However, he said, the Afghans living here without identification documents would have to go back to their country.

Claiming that the letter about harassment of the Pakhtun in Punjab was fake, he said, “No Pakhtun is being arrested in Punjab and I challenge those who are creating negative propaganda (to prove the allegation),” he said.

Rana Sanaullah also criticised the PPP and the PTI for “corruption” in Sindh and Kyber Pakhtunkhwa.

About Rangers operation in Punjab, the minister said: “The operation is underway in whole Punjab, including the south.” Responding to the law minister’s media talk later in the day, Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed said holding of the PSL final in a curfew-like situation will be no success of the government but a ploy to shift the public focus away from the Supreme Court’s upcoming verdict in Panamagate case.

He said real “Satans” were those who looted national wealth and set up offshore companies. “The PML-N itself is a ‘facilitator’ of Satan,” he said.

He said the government was trying to hoodwink people by holding the PSL final with unknown foreign cricketers and local club players.

Answering a question, the opposition leader said the PSL’s audit must be held and added that he would talk on the subject on the floor of the House.

Clarifying Imran Khan’s statement, Mr Rasheed said neither international cricket would be restored through such event, nor could peace be brought under high security.

Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2017