Lahore: Shahbaz to stay at Defence residence due to security concerns

LAHORE: The shifting of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s residence to 7-Club Road has been postponed due to security concerns, sources in the CM’s Secretariat told Daily Times on Thursday.

The office of secretary to the CM has been moved back to 7-Club Road from 8-Club Road. The sources said the shifting was postponed after a brief meeting on Wednesday, which was chaired by the CM, and attended by Home Secretary Nadeem Hasan Asif, Punjab Police Inspector General (IG) Tariq Saleem Dogar and the Special Branch additional IG.

On June 1, the offices of the CM’s Secretariat situated at 7-Club Road were moved to 8-Club Road, and 7-Club Road was designated as the CM’s residence. This was done to limit the CM’s movements in line with security concerns raised by intelligence reports. The offices of Secretary to the CM Syed Touqir Shah, Coordination Secretary Dr Ajmal, three additional secretaries, two personal staff officers, two deputy secretaries, the chief comptroller and their subordinate staff were shifted to 8-Club Road.

Once 7-Club Road was vacated, its renovation was started to make it liveable. The premises had not been used as a residence since it was vacated by former CM Manzoor Wattoo.

Sources said, however, the CM ordered that no major renovation be done to prevent wastage of public funds. They said the building was whitewashed and necessary alterations were made within one week.

However, Shahbaz did not move to the building due to security concerns. Sources said he would stay at his Defence residence. The premises of 7-Club Road will now be used as Shahbaz’s chambers for official work, sources said. They said moving offices twice during two weeks had disrupted official work.

Source: Daily Times