LHC disposes of PML-N plea after workers release

Lahore High Court’s (LHC) Justice Masud Abid Naqvi on Friday disposed of a petition after the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawyers’ wing expressed satisfaction over the government’s assurance to release the party workers.

The Punjab administration held a meeting with PML-N leaders and ensured them to release the political activists participating in Pakistan Democratic Movement (PMD) rally.

The PML-N lawyers’ wing had filed a petition in the LHC seeking directions to the quarters concerned for the release of workers and supporters of the PMD, removal of barricades and all hurdles created by the provincial government and Punjab Police to foil the public gathering scheduled to be held on October 16 (yesterday) at Gujranwala.

As the proceedings commenced, Justice Naqvi remarked that Advocate General Punjab (AGP) Ahmed Awais had ensured the court that no illegal hindrance will be created during the public gathering. Petitioner’s counsel implored the court that Khawaja Saad Rafique and other leaders met with Punjab administration where they were ensured that all the PMD workers will be released.

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It is up to you whether you want to keep the matter pending or start arguments, Justice Naqvi remarked. To which petitioner’s counsel requested the court to dispose of petition in light of the version of AGP Ahmed Awais.

The PML-N’s lawyer wing, in its petition, made respondents to the Punjab government through its chief secretary, home secretary, IGP, DIG Operations, CCPO and regional police officer (RPO) Gujranwala.

The petition stated that the opposition parties gathered on the platform of PDM which announced to hold a public gathering in Gujranwala. But the respondents blocked many roads leading to Gujranwala by placing containers on the roads.

The petitioners said respondents have also started arresting political workers and supporters of PDM under the garb of The Punjab Infectious Diseases (Prevention and Control) Ordinance, 2020. The supply of fuel to the filing stations was also being disrupted by the respondents as fuel was not available at many areas in city.

The petitioner also maintained that the respondents have placed 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 said act of the respondents was also causing great inconvenience and hardships to the public-at-large.