Federal, provincial govts issued notices in pleas against PAT sit-in

LAHORE: A Lahore High Court (LHC) full bench on Tuesday issued notices to the federal and provincial governments and others for January 17, on a petition seeking stoppage of anti-govt drive and sit-in, announced by Pakistan Awami Tehreek.

The bench comprising Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, Justice Shahid Jamil Khan and Justice Shahid Karim issued notices on an application, filed by Advocate Ghulam Yaseen Bhatti in a pending petition.

During the hearing, petitioner's counsel AK Dogar submitted that an LHC single bench had issued notices on the main petition against the anti-govt drive/sit-in, but the part of petition regarding interim relief remained unattended.

He submitted that the respondents had announced launching a drive from January 17 and planned to hold sit-in on the Mall Road.

He contended that if, ultimately, the petitioner succeeded and it was held that the activity of the respondents was unconstitutional and they could not have taken sit-in, then not only the petitioner but public at large would also suffer irreparable loss.

He pleaded with the court to restrain respondents from holding sit-in on January 17, besides stopping any kind of anti-government drive.

After hearing initial arguments, the bench issued notices to the respondents for January 17 and observed that the bench would take up the matter at 9am.

Meanwhile, the bench also issued notices to Punjab government and others for January 17 on two petitions filed against holding the sit-in on The Mall.

The petitions were filed by traders' representatives, Naeem Mir and Khawaja Sohail Mehmood.

During the hearing, the petitioner's counsel submitted that due to protests, sit-ins and rallies at The Mall, the business activity was deeply affected. He said that in compliance with the LHC orders, the government had made a policy in that regard. As per policy, The Mall from Mian Mir bridge to PMG Chowk had been declared Red Zone and no one was allowed to hold any sort of protest in that area, he added. However, he said that protests could be held at Nasser Bagh, adjacent to The Mall or Attique Stadium.

He said that the respondents had announced holding a sit-in at the Charing Cross, The Mall, from January 17 despite the clear ban.

He pleaded with the court to restrain respondents from holding sit-in at The Mall. He also requested the bench to bound the media to cover the protest, if it was held at Nasser Bagh, or any other place.

At this, the bench issued notices to the respondents for January 17 and sought replies. The bench also observed that the government had already framed a policy regarding the protests and sit-ins at The Mall, in response to petitioner counsel request for an interim stay.

Earlier, the bench formed to hear the petitions was dissolved after Justice Farrukh Irfan Khan refused to sit on the bench. The bench was formed Tuesday morning and was dissolved some time after the formation.