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February 23, 2006 Thursday Muharram 24, 1427

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Punjab govt calls in more Rangers



Dawn Report


LAHORE, Feb 22: More Pakistan Rangers personnel joined law enforcers in the city and elsewhere in Punjab on Wednesday to intensify security ahead of the planned protests and rallies against blasphemous cartoons.

Official sources said the reinforcement had been sought by the provincial government on the recommendation of Punjab police. They added at least 1,500 Rangers personnel were already performing security duty in the city, who would be joined by more men from their ranks from Thursday (today).

The Rangers have been patrolling the city roads since the rioters caused massive damage to public property on Feb 14, besides their deployment at all important government buildings, foreign installations and public places.

In addition to the Rangers, at least 10,000 police are on alert to deal with any eventuality, the sources said. They added the Rangers had also been sent to other cities of the province where they would be called out in case of any emergency.

Meanwhile, the city police continued raiding the houses and offices of various religious and political parties’ activists to bar their participation in the proposed rallies. “My house in Garhi Shahu was raided by the police. They picked up my brother when they did not find me around,” a PML-N councillor, Nighat Nasir, said.

Police sources said dozens of the activists had been detained at different police lock-ups, and their families were not being informed about charges against them.

PPP protest: The PPP will protest against the blasphemous cartoons near the Lahore Press Club on Thursday afternoon.

Haji Azizur Rahman Chan, president of the Lahore organisation, said at a news conference here on Wednesday the protest would be quite peaceful and there would be no rally.

He said the party had already given an undertaking to the administration that the protesters would stay peaceful.

The administration reportedly advised PPP leaders to hold the protest at the party’s Lahore office on GT Road or the provincial secretariat in Faisal Town. However, the PPP leaders insisted that since the cartoons had hurt religious feelings of all Muslims, they would protest near the press club.

Samiullah Khan, Zakariya Butt, Ehsan Ganjial, Tahir Khaleeq and some other office-bearers were also present at the news conference.

Haji Chan demanded the release of all those arrested by the police during the past few days. Similarly, he said, raids on the houses of PPP leaders and workers should be stopped immediately. He also held a meeting with zonal presidents and discussed with them arrangements for Thursday’s protest.



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