LAHORE: Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah Friday issued notices to the federal and the Punjab governments on a petition, challenging establishment of the Punjab Healthcare Commission with an aim to regulate medical profession.

The court ordered both the respondents to submit their replies till February 2. The chief justice also issued notices to the attorney general of Pakistan and the Punjab advocate general.

The petition was moved on behalf of the Punjab Dental Practitioners Association.

Counsel for petitioner contended that the Punjab Healthcare Commission Act 2010 and entire superstructure built through it was against the constitution. He submitted that after the 18th amendment, only the federal government could legislate on matters pertaining to medical profession.

He asserted that the provincial legislature had not been constitutionally competent to enact the impugned Act of 2010. He requested the court to declare the act and all appointments; punishments, actions and directions issued under the act illegal.

Meanwhile, the chief justice Friday dismissed as not maintainable a petition requesting the court to initiate contempt of court proceeding against former minister Javed Hashmi for allegedly uttering remarks about judicial martial law in the country.

Advocate Saleem Chaudhry had moved the petition, submitting that senior politician Javed Hashmi had claimed that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan wanted to bring a judicial martial law during the 2014 sit-in in the capital.

Petitioner submitted that by uttering these marks, Hashmi had become guilty of contempt of court and as such had committed contempt of court.