LHC seeks Punjab response on Section 144

Petitioner says govt action violate basic rights

LAHORE:

Lahore High Court's Justice Shahid Karim has sought a reply from the provincial government on a plea seeking orders to set aside a notification under which Section 144 was imposed in Punjab.

Petitioner Najiullah contended in his petition that the government's act of repeatedly imposing the section, which prohibits large gatherings, is tantamount to depriving the public their basic right to organise political activities.

He contended that Section 144 is being imposed unlawfully, merely to restrain a political party from its activities.

The petitioner's counsel, Azhar Siddique, told the court that the constitution allows citizens to protest peacefully, and nobody could be restrained from exercising this right. He prayed the court set aside the notification through which Section 144 was imposed.

Last week, the Punjab government imposed Section 144 across the province, effectively banning all public gatherings, protests, rallies, processions, and sit-ins for a period of three days. In this connection, the Punjab Home Department issued a notification regarding the enforcement of Section 144 across the province, Express News reported.

According to the notification, all forms of protests, rallies, processions, and sit-ins were prohibited. The Section 144 would be in effect from November 23 to November 25.

According to a spokesperson for the Punjab Home Department, the recommendation to enforce Section 144 was made during a meeting of the Cabinet Committee for Law and Order. The decision to impose the section was made to ensure peace, protect human lives, and safeguard property.

In view of security concerns, any public procession could be a soft target for terrorists. Miscreants might exploit public gatherings to carry out anti-state activities and achieve their malicious objectives.