Lahore High Court's (LHC) Justice Farooq Haider has dismissed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)'s petition seeking permission to hold a public gathering at Minar-e-Pakistan on March 22, directing the party to first approach the government's redressal committee.
Justice Haider upheld the Registrar Office's objection, directing that PTI must exhaust the administrative remedy before approaching the court.
The petitioner's counsel, however, argued that seeking redress from the committee would be futile.
In response, Justice Haider observed that PTI could approach the court if the redressal committee failed to decide the matter.
Petitioner Akmal Khan, PTI's senior vice president for Central Punjab, filed the plea, naming the Punjab chief secretary, IGP Lahore, DIG operations, commissioner Lahore Division, deputy commissioner Lahore and other officials as respondents.
In his petition, he stated that he had submitted an application to the deputy commissioner's office seeking permission to hold a public gathering at Minar-e-Pakistan on March 22 from 8 pm to 12 am, but received no response.
He pointed out the date's historical significance, as March 23 marks the passage of the Pakistan Resolution in 1940 – a pivotal event in the country's history.
The petitioner contended that it was the duty of every patriotic citizen and political party to commemorate and celebrate the occasion. PTI, being the country's largest party, has a fundamental right to do so in a peaceful manner.
He further argued that under Article 4 of the Constitution, the respondents are obligated to allow and facilitate the public gathering while ensuring that no impediments or obstructions are created.
Political victimisation, he asserted, has become a menace threatening the political foundation of the country's social contract. He noted that both the LHC and the Supreme Court have, in multiple rulings, recognised such political victimisation as unconstitutional and declared it null and void.
The petitioner requested the court to restrain the respondents from harassing, humiliating, or coercing him and his family, citing the prevailing hostile political environment over the past two and a half years.
Additionally, he urged the court to direct the authorities to grant PTI permission to hold its gathering at Minar-e-Pakistan.
It is worth mentioning that the Lahore district administration had previously denied PTI permission to hold a rally at Minar-e-Pakistan on February 8.
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