PML-N moves LHC against illegal arrests, road blocks

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday, issuing a notice to the provincial government, directed advocate general Punjab to return on October 16 after getting instructions from the government after a petition was filed by the PML-N's lawyer wing

Justice Masud Abid Naqvi passed the direction after hearing the petition which contended for the release of party supporters and removal of roadblocks erected by the provincial government and Punjab Police to create hurdles for the PML-N's public gathering.

PML-N's lawyer wing had decided to file a writ petition wherein it made made Punjab government respondent through its chief secretary, home secretary, inspector general police, DIG operations, CCPO and the regional police officer (RPO) Gujranwala.

The petition stated that opposition parties gathered on a joint platform of PDM and announced a peaceful public gathering, but the respondents had blocked many roads leading to Gujranwala by placing containers on them.

Respondents had also started making illegal arrests of political workers and supporters of PDM under the garb of The Punjab Infectious Diseases (Prevention and Control) Ordinance, 2020, the petition further contented.

It further stated that the supply of petrol to petrol pumps was being disrupted by the respondents and the same had virtually been discontinued at many petrol pumps so as to keep the motor vehicles of the opposition parties off the roads.

Respondents had placed many hurdles including barbed wire fences, barriers, cement blocks and other materials in their attempt to put maximum restrictions on the participants of the peaceful public gathering at Gujranwala, the petition added.

“The said act of the respondents was also causing great inconvenience and hardships to the public-at-large,” the petition added.

It stated that the action of the government was tantamount to abridging and curtailing fundamental rights guaranteed in Articles 9 and 15 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973, the petition stated.

The petition prayed upon the court that direction be passed to concerned quarters to immediately release the members and supporters and workers of PML-N as well as PDM who had been illegally detained by the respondents.

“The respondents may very kindly be further directed not to harass or illegally detain any of the members and supporters/workers of PML-N as well as PDM on politically motivated grounds,” the petition maintained.

It was further prayed for the "removal barriers, hurdles barbed wire fences, barriers, cement blocks and other materials for the people of Pakistan and not to create any hindrance to exercise their right of movement, freedom, assembly, association and speeches".

It also asked for the supply of petrol to be ensured by the respondents, so that the right of movement of the citizens may not be disturbed.