Lahore, Inspector General Police Punjab, Dr. Usman Anwar, conducted a thorough review of the security arrangements at Gaddafi Stadium for the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2024 matches. His visit, which drew positive reactions from citizens and cricket enthusiasts alike, underscored the Punjab Police’s commitment to ensuring a safe and peaceful environment for the prestigious cricket event.
According to Punjab Police, the presence of IG Punjab at Gaddafi Stadium not only heightened the spirits of cricket fans but also led to an outpouring of support for the Punjab Police. Enthusiastic fans took the opportunity to express their gratitude towards Dr. Usman Anwar and the police force by raising supportive slogans and taking selfies with the IG, appreciating the extensive security measures in place for the PSL matches.
During his visit, Dr. Usman Anwar was accompanied by DIG Operations Ali Nasir Rizvi, SP Model Town, and other senior police officers, who briefed him on the comprehensive security arrangements designed to protect players, officials, and spectators. The IG Punjab meticulously inspected the security deployments along the team routes, stadium entrance gates, and parking areas, emphasizing the importance of high alertness among the officers and personnel on duty.
Highlighting the scale of the security operation, Dr. Anwar disclosed that over 20,000 police officers and officials are deployed across Punjab to secure the PSL matches. He issued specific instructions to ensure vigilant monitoring, including the deployment of snipers on high buildings along the stadium route and the active patrolling of Dolphin Squad, Police Response Unit (PERU), and Elite Force teams.
The IG’s directives also covered the polite and courteous treatment of cricket fans by police officials during security checks, reinforcing the police’s commitment to facilitating a positive experience for all attendees.
On the second day of PSL season 09, two matches were played, one at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore between Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi, and the other at Multan Stadium between Multan Sultans and Karachi Kings. Under the guidance of Dr. Usman Anwar, the CCPO Lahore and RPO Multan oversaw the security and traffic arrangements, ensuring a smooth and secure experience for all.
Dr. Anwar praised the enhanced security strategy for this year’s PSL, highlighting the coordinated efforts of the police, district administration, and security agencies. He emphasized the continuous monitoring through CCTV and the issuance of a traffic advisory to aid cricket fans and ensure uninterrupted traffic flow during the games.
The efforts by the Punjab Police to secure the PSL matches reflect a significant commitment to public safety and the promotion of international sports events in the region.
Geneva, United Nations experts have called on the Houthi de facto authorities in Yemen to stop the scheduled execution of human rights defender Fatima Saleh Al-Arwali. They warned that proceeding with her execution would breach international human rights laws and constitute an arbitrary execution and severe gender-based violence.
According to Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN experts expressed deep concern over Al-Arwali’s imminent execution, emphasizing it as a violation of the universal right to life. Al-Arwali, who has been a vocal critic of human rights abuses in Yemen, including the recruitment of children and violations against women by the Houthi movement, was sentenced to death on December 5, 2023, on charges of “espionage and aiding hostile parties.” Her execution is planned for February 21, 2024, in Tahrir Square, Sana’a.
Al-Arwali has been detained since August 2022 under harsh conditions, including incommunicado detention and denial of access to legal representation or a fair trial, which the UN experts highlighted as serious violations of her human rights. The experts are urging the Houthi authorities to reconsider Al-Arwali’s case in line with international fair trial standards and without gender discrimination.
The call from the UN experts underscores the international community’s concern over the treatment of human rights defenders in Yemen and the use of the death penalty for vague charges without a legitimate judicial process. They emphasized that Al-Arwali’s work as a human rights defender appears to have led to her arbitrary detention, ill-treatment, and now her death sentence, actions which they deem as retaliatory and in violation of international laws and norms protecting women and girls’ rights.
The UN’s plea aims to prevent what they see as an unjust and irreversible violation of human rights, calling on global attention to Al-Arwali’s case and the broader implications for human rights advocacy in conflict zones.