Forces out to control rallies

Lahore: The Punjab Government has given a free hand to the police and the Rangers in the province to deal with protesters sternly.

According to government sources, following the violent protests on Wednesday in Lahore, heavy contingents of police and Rangers were deployed in the city to stop rallies to protest the blasphemous cartoons published in some European newspapers.

Troops were also deployed at key spots in the city. The Rangers and police jointly patrolled various parts of the city and all government, multinational and foreign companies' offices, embassies and consulates, schools and colleges, banks and other important buildings were under protection.