GUJRANWALA, March 29: The home department issued guidelines regarding protest rallies across the province and ordered that the use of force against lawyers and media persons must be avoided.

Reports said that the home department sent a memorandum to the Punjab IGP, all district nazims, DCOs, the Lahore CCPO and CPOs Rawalpindi, Faisalabad Gujranwala and Multan and regional and district police officers, directing them to follow instructions conveyed by the federal government keeping in view the prevailing law and order situation in the country.

The memorandum said the zero tolerance policy was not advisable. However, peaceful protests should be allowed and regulated while necessary advance coordination should be carried out with lawyers and the media.

The home department further urged police officers and the administration to make concerted efforts to keep students, traders, transporters, labour unions and others away from protest rallies.

The memorandum stressed to check the display of arms without any discrimination.

SEIZED: The patrolling police claimed on Thursday to have arrested six accused and recovered a huge quantity of illicit arms from their vehicles during a snap checking.

Regional patrolling SP Muhammad Ahsan Javed said that a Pajero (IDB-4185), bearing a number plate of MPA, was intercepted. During checking, the police recovered a Kalashnikov, two pistols, five rifles and bottles of liquor. Police also arrested accused Mauris Masih, Farhat, Qaiser Ijaz, Irshad, Ghulam Mustafa and Zaman. Sizeable arms were also seized from other vehicles.

Cases have been registered against the accused.

ARRESTED: At least half a dozen landlords were arrested by a joint raiding team of the police and the irrigation for stealing water by creating a breach in the canal in Tetley on Thursday.

Reports said that the joint team on receipt of information conducted a raid and arrested accused Manzoor, Mushtaq, Ali Ahmad, Yasin, Imran and Younas.

A case has been registered against them.