BAHAWALPUR: The stage is set to hold the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) power show at the Dring Stadium here on Saturday amid tight security measures by the district administration and police.

The whole venue of the rally has been decorated with multi-coloured banners and flexes painted with portraits of PTI chief and former premier Imran Khan and other leaders.

The organisers, who expect a big crowd from the three districts of the Bahawalpur division, said that Imran Khan`s speech would mainly focus on his appeal for the collection of funds for the flood survivors. Dif ferent gates of the stadium have been designated for males, womenactivists and party leaders, where personnel of the law-enforcing agencies would be deployed for security before and during Khan`s address.

District Police Officer Aibadat Nisar told Dawn the police would remain on high alert and over 2,000 police personnel in addition to the personnel of Elite Force and Dolphin Force would be deployed in and around the venue.

Mr Khan is also expected to address lawyers before his public rally on the invitation of Bahawalpur High Court Bar Association President Aurengzaib told Dawn that Mr Khan was invited to address bar members.

LITERACY: The education department organisedspecialeventstomark International Literacy Day in Bahawalpur and Lodhran.In Bahawalpur, District Education OfficerLiteracy Zahid Nazir stressed the need to bring out-of-school children to non-f ormal schools. At present, 1,371 literacy schools are functional with a total strength of 49,000 children in the Bahawalpur division. Teachers and students were awarded commendation certificates for their best performance.

In Lodhran, DEO Shazia Naurean led a walk at Makhdoom Aali and apprised the participants of the importance of nonformal basic education in literary schools.

ARR ESTED: The police arrested five people for beating rickshaw driver Muhammad Boota over some dispute whose video went viral on social media.

According to the police, Boota,0f Fateh Pull in Hasilpur, was allegedlyabducted by about eight to 10 suspects. They detained him at their dera in village 149-Murad, and beat him with sticks, leaving his legs fractured. The victim appealed to the police for acdon against the suspects.

According to the police, on the complaint of Boota, the police arrested Abbas, Shafgat Ali, Shahnawaz, Muhammad Nawaz and Zafar, of village 149Murad.