ISLAMABAD, April 14: Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao told the National Assembly on Thursday that the rule of law would be enforced and action taken against any breach of the ban on public gatherings in Punjab.

The minister said a party’s plan to accord a reception to former senator Asif Ali Zardari on his arrival in Lahore would be dealt with according to the law. “The provincial government will act against those who violate the law as Section 144 is in force in Punjab,” he said.

He was responding to Raja Pervez Ashraf of the People’s Party Parliamentarians, who claimed that police had prevented some PPP MNAs from attending a party meeting held in Lahore on Wednesday in connection with preparations to welcome Mr Zardari on April 16.

About the PPP member’s bid to move a privilege motion, the minister said he had received its notice before the start of the session and he needed time to ascertain the facts and present those to the house.

He, however, said no member of parliament had been detained.

Whether it was the federal or a provincial government, the members of parliament had to be respected and their status protected, he said.

Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain deferred the issue till Monday, saying that the minister, who had neither opposed nor conceded the motion, was justified in seeking time to get the details.

Members belonging to PPP and the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) staged a walkout following the speaker’s decision.—APP