LAHORE, Nov 23: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Sunday that permission to hold another function on Nov 22 near the World Performing Arts Festival should not have been granted as police had to focus on the festival where foreign artists were performing.

He said that a comprehensive planning be made to issue NOCs for holding such events in future while the IGP said that a vigorous campaign had been launched against criminals and anti-social elements.

The chief minister said the life and property of people would be protected at all costs and anti-social elements would not be allowed to disrupt and terrify peaceful citizens.

VULGARITY: The chief minister said that vulgarity and obscenity in the name of culture would not be tolerated and strict action would be taken against those ‘de-tracking’ the younger generation.

He also constituted a high-level committee headed by the chief secretary to take action against those who violate the rules. The committee’s formation follows a Lahore High Court ruling banning ‘vulgar’ stage dances last week.

The committee will also ensure that obscene dances should not be performed on the stage and not be shown through cable television.

The chief minister said the government would encourage healthy activities but obscene dramas and dances would not be tolerated.

ADVISER: An adviser to the chief minister said the

Punjab government would neither bow to miscreants nor change its culture and heritage because of fear of sabotage activities.

The organisers of the World Performing Arts Festival will be provided complete protection, Pervez Rashid told reporters at the Alhamra Cultural Complex where the home secretary and Punjab police chief were also present.

Rashid said the chief minister had been briefed about the incident. He said investigations were in progress and added that the culprits would be behind the bars soon.

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