Two men electrocuted

Two people were electrocuted when they were trying to remove a signboard from an electric pole in Millat Park on Tuesday.  Rescue workers said both the victims died instantly. The deceased were identified as Imran Ali, 40, and Haroon Iqbal, 45.  Both the local residents were trying to remove a signboard from an electric pole near Pakki Thathi Chowk when they touched high-voltage wires.  As a result, they sustained sever electric shocks and died on the spot. The police later handed over the bodies to the families after fulfilling legal formalities.–Staff Reporter

 Workers sans salary for seven months

Orange Line project workers staged a demo outside the PML-N secretariat against the non-payment of their outstanding dues. The workers have been without salary for seven months. Seven workers took to the PML-N secretariat in protest against contractor. Former minister Zahid Hamid assured the workers of redressing their grievances.  Meanwhile, the PML-N women aspirant for the reserved seats staged a protest outside the party secretariat after they were denied refund of dues they deposited for ticket.  Rawalpindi workers including Riffat Abbasi, Samina Abbasi, Aapan Zubeda and Uzma Khanim had been affiliated with the PML-N for the last 28 years.  They said favourites have been awarded tickets and they were told that a committee would took up the matter of refund. –Staff Reporter

Chief secretary orders foolproof security

Chief Secretary Punjab Akbar Durrani on Tuesday ordered the divisional commissioner and deputy commissioner to ensure foolproof security on the eve of Independence Day. Presiding over a meeting to review arrangements regarding Independence Day celebrations, the Chief Secretary said that the security plan be implemented in letter and spirit. He said that all departments, keeping close liaison, should organize programmes jointly in order to celebrate Independence Day in a befitting manner. He directed the deputy commissioner to ensure participation of people from all walks of life especially minorities, transgender and special persons. He added that philanthropists should be encouraged for organizing Independence Day ceremonies at hospitals, jails, old age homes. He directed the officer to start day of 14 Augustwith Quran Khwani and prayers for progress and solidarity of the country in mosques. He also issued instructions regarding making massive tree plantation a part of Independence Day celebration besides ensuring arrangements for smooth flow of traffic around historic and recreational places. Additional Chief Secretary Home Capt (r) Nasim Nawaz told the meeting that necessary directions about security measures have been issued to districts.

The meeting was briefed that ceremonies would be organized at provincial, divisional, district and tehsil level to celebrate Independence Day with national zeal and zest. In Lahore, main ceremony of flag hoisting would be held at Hazori Bagh. Speech and essay competitions, seminars, symposiums, sports activities, national songs contests and others events would be arranged in schools, colleges, universities at union council, tehsil, district, division and provincial level. Those among present were administrative secretaries of different departments including finance, local government, planning and development, schools, higher education, women development, commissioner Lahore division, director general public relation Punjab, deputy commissioner Lahore whereas divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners joined the meeting through video link.