LAHORE, Jan 16: Top administration in Punjab is keeping a close eye on the Islamabad sit-in of Dr Tahirul Qadri to keep itself ready for any eventuality.

According to sources on Wednesday, the chief secretary, the inspector general of police and the home secretary were in constant touch on the issue, exchanging views on how to handle the situation in case of peaceful or otherwise end of the sit-in.

“Our job is to run the province. We cannot remain detached to the developments and we should be ready to ensure law and order,” a senior official said on condition of anonymity.

On Tuesday the top officials sat in their offices after office hours, closely watching the overall law and order and political situation in the country as well as the province.

Sources said the violence reported in Sindh in the aftermath of the Supreme Court decision in the rental power case was also discussed and it was also checked whether conditions in Punjab were peaceful.

They said the authorities were discussing how to provide security to the participants of the sit-in if they dispersed peacefully and how to ensure law and order in case the federal government decided to take any action. Handling Dr Tahirul Qadri in both scenarios was also being discussed.

The main area of focus was Rawalpindi district, where the Punjab government would immediately be required to move in after the sit-in ends.

Meanwhile, like everywhere in the country, the civil bureaucracy is gluing to the television constantly, watching developments in Islamabad and rest of the country. Colleagues in Islamabad and elsewhere are being contacted to know the latest, particularly behind the scenes, developments to keep ready for any situation.