PML-N leaders including Saad Rafique put under house arrest?

LAHORE: Inspector General Punjab police Kaleem Imam has reportedly issued orders for detention of a number of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leaders including former railways minister Khawaja Saad Rafique.

According to reports, those who are to be detained and put under house arrest include Mian Marghoob, Bilal Yasin, Khwaja Imran Nazir, Malik Saiful Malook, Waheed Alam Khan and Khawaja Salman Rafique, brother of Khwaja Saad Rafique.

The caretaker government is arresting protesting workers in Lahore and other cities of Punjab in a crackdown meant to keep law and order situation in control on July 13 (today) when Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz reach Pakistan after being convicted in the Avenfield Apartments case.

Reports say that the detained PML-N leaders will be put under house arrest for 30 days.

Earlier in a day, the Lahore High Court (LHC) summoned the home secretary and IG Punjab on a petition against the alleged arrest of PML-N workers ahead of former premier Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz’s return.

The petitioner pleaded with the bench to restrain the police from arresting PML-N workers.

A day ago, the PML-N accused the government of detaining more than 400 of its workers to stop them from gathering outside Lahore airport to welcome their supreme leader.

The former ruling party has announced to accord its leaders a ‘historic welcome’ at the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore where they are expected to land on Friday evening.