LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has declared that running a snooker club is a lawful business, overturning a trial court’s order to close a citizen’s recreational facility. Justice Jawad Zafar issued the five-page verdict on the appeal filed by Muhammad Rashid, the owner of the club.
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In its written decision, the court emphasized that under the Constitution, every citizen has the right to conduct lawful business. It held that billiards and snooker are recreational activities that are neither immoral nor prohibited by law. The LHC observed that businesses operating within legal parameters cannot be shut down indefinitely based on vague complaints.
The case arose after a snooker club in Sargodha, managed by Muhammad Rashid, faced closure. The opposing party had approached the local magistrate, alleging that the club stayed open late and caused noise disturbances. Acting under Section 133 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), the magistrate ordered the closure of the club.
The LHC clarified that Section 133 powers are intended for emergency situations and temporary public nuisances, not to impose permanent bans on lawful businesses. The judgment noted that issues such as noise or operating hours could have been addressed through regulation rather than a full shutdown. The court termed the trial court’s action a misuse of judicial authority.
Concluding the verdict, the LHC annulled the trial court’s decision and allowed Muhammad Rashid to reopen and operate his snooker club, provided all legal requirements are met. The ruling reinforces citizens’ rights to conduct recreational and lawful businesses without arbitrary interference.
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Legal experts hailed the decision as a positive step in protecting economic rights while ensuring public concerns are managed appropriately.