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Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said on Friday that the high-alert imposed in the province was not due to the Pakistan Super League final, scheduled for March 5, but due to incidents of terrorism.
“We are in a state of war and the high-alert would remain in place until our war against terrorism reaches its logical end,” said Sanaullah after reviewing the security arrangements made for the PSL final.
The law minister added that “fool proof arrangements have made to ensure safety and security of the teams and the public”.
“The civil administration and police are taking stringent measure to ensure top of the line security, with the Rangers and other law-enforcing agencies extending support to them,” further elaborated the law minister.
The law minister claimed he has also viewed the security arrangements in place starting from Lahore airport to the stadium.
“Keeping in view all the arrangements and the level of the security it is hoped that the PSL final will be held in a successful manner.”
Sanaullah clarified that cell phone services during the final will not be disrupted in the provincial capital, while the metro bus services will continue till 1am to facilitate the people.
Law minister denies profiling
Sanaullah, in an interview with The Associated Press, said police were searching out areas in Punjab dominated by ethnic Pashtuns and unregistered Afghan refugees because some of the worst attacks carried out in the provincial capital involved residents of the tribal areas.
He cited last year's Easter attack in Lahore that killed more than 75 people, saying 11 men arrested in connection with the suicide attack were from Pakistan's Mohmand and Bajaur tribal regions.
“They are from FATA so we have decided that we should do action against those areas where people from Bajaur and Mohmand are and where Afghan refugees who are not registered are residing,” Sanaullah said.
The law minister denied that the government is employing profiling in its crackdown that targets ethnic Pashtuns.
