LAHORE, Dec 30: Rail traffic between Lahore and Cantonment railway stations remained suspended for around six hours on Sunday for `security reasons’ during the visit of Caretaker Prime Minister Mohammadmian Somroo to the Cantonment area.

Two senior officers of the city police remained in the cabins outside the Lahore and Cantonment stations from 5.45pm till 11.40pm to ensure that no train could go through.

The shuttle train coming from Sahiwal was halted at Cantonment station at around 8pm, Samasata-bound train at platform No 7 of the Lahore station from 6pm while the Sahiwal-bound shuttle was not given a green signal to move from platform No 8.

The service could be resumed at 12.10 when Sahiwal-bound shuttle was given a green signal. This is not for the first time that rail service remained suspended for the security of a VVIP in Lahore. On Aug 15, 2005, rail service between Lahore Cantonment and Kot Lakhpat railway stations was kept suspended for two hours for `security reasons’ during the visit of President Pervez Musharraf to Walton where he performed the foundation stone laying of the Bab-i-Pakistan.—Staff Reporter