Daily Times

LAHORE: Justice Mamoon Rashid Sheikh of the Lahore High Court on Tuesday restrained Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) from making arrangements for its August 16 women-wing sit-in on The Mall.

The judge also directed the PAT to submit its written reply till Wednesday (today).

The judge issued the restraint order on a petition moved on behalf of the Mall Road Traders Association against the sit-in announced by PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri calling it a violation of the court’s earlier order.

Petitioner counsel Asad Manzoor Butt submitted that the LHC had already imposed a ban on protests/processions on The Mall and the government also imposed Section 144 in compliance with this order. He said that the area of Nasir Bagh and Attique Stadium had been allocated by the government for the purpose of protest activities or processions.

He said The Mall was a vulnerable place for public gathering as a suicide attack also took place on the same venue during a sit-in of pharmacists in February. He further submitted that the protests on The Mall would badly affect business activities.

He requested the court to stop the PAT from holding the sit-in on The Mall.

On court’s directions, Advocate General of Punjab Shakilur Rehman appeared and said that the PAT announced its protest despite imposition of Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). He said the government would ensure the enforcement of the ban against protests on The Mall.

Counsel for the PAT Ishtiaq Chaudhry sought time to file a detailed reply.

The judge, with restraint order, deferred the hearing of the petition for a day.

Published in Daily Times, August 16^th 2017.