LAHORE, May 4: The Punjab government's frustration has mounted with the news of Shahbaz Sharif's return and it arrested a large number of PML-N activists to prevent them from welcoming the party president.

This was claimed by PML-N's Punjab president Zulfiqar Khosa at a meeting of lawyers on Tuesday. The meeting was part of the party's campaign to mobilize different sections of society to welcome the former chief minister at Lahore airport.

According to him, the rulers could not relax since they heard the news of Shahbaz Sharif's return. "Shahbaz Sharif cannot be denied his inalienable right to return home under any excuse."

Referring to Pervaiz Ilahii's assertion that an agreement with Saudi Arabia stood in the way of Shahbaz Sharif's return, Mr Khosa said the chief minister was telling a lie as no agreement was binding on the former chief minister.

Mr Khosa was of the view that Shahbaz Sharif's return would infuse vigour to the struggle for the restoration of democracy. "The is the year of return to home and many more will stage a comeback," Mr Khosa said.