Govt has the right to place temporary restrictions says LHC

A civil court worker sacked for taking bribe tried to kill himself.

LAHORE: Last week, Lahore High Court ruled that blocking public roads by placing containers did not infringe on the fundamental rights of citizens.

The court dismissed petitions challenging the blockage of roads by the government. The petitioners had said that the blockages had led to problems in mobility of citizens, especially patients and students.

Justice Khalid Mahmood Khan of the LHC observed that fundamental rights were guaranteed by the Constitution to all citizens, but if reasonable restrictions were imposed in accordance with law, citizens should bear them for the greater interest of the general public.

Justice Khan said that national security was a prime concern above all matters. He said that law and order and the security of lives and properties of citizens were the government’s prime responsibilities. He said therefore the government had the right to place temporary curbs on free movement.

Justice Khan said precautions could be taken where there were reasonable apprehensions of illegal activity.

While the petitions had requested the constitution of a local commission to shed light on the purpose of the restrictions, the court dismissed the petitions without considering that request. Justice Khan held the Lahore CCPO’s statement claiming that no obstacles had been placed to curb the freedoms of the general public.

Re-polling ordered

An election tribunal last week set aside the election results of 33 polling stations in PP-97, Gujranwala, and issued directions to the election commission to conduct fresh polls at the polling stations.

The election tribunal comprising Justice Kazim Malik issued the order after the tribunal established that rigging had taken placed in PP-97.

Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid’s Nasir Cheema had filed the application challenging Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s candidate Ashraf Waraich’s victory at the polls.

The complainant said Waraich had won through massive rigging. He said such a person was not eligible to hold public office. He requested the judge to set aside election results in PP-97 and direct the election commission to conducted fresh polls. Waraich had rejected all allegations levelled against him.

Motorcycles to be released

Last week, the LHC directed the provincial government to release all motorcycles impounded by Punjab Police since Wednesday, regardless of whether they belonged to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf workers or not.

Justice Mahmood Ahmad Bhatti passed the order on a petition filed by PTI Lawyers’ Wing vice president Jawad Mobeen. The petitioner said at least 25,000 motorcycles had been impounded by the police.

He asked the court to declare impounding of motorcycles illegal and order the police to release all motorcycles.

Foiled suicide bid

Last week, lawyers and security personnel at the LHC foiled a suicide attempt by an employee at the Gujranwala civil court who had been removed from service. Bar leaders assured the dejected man that he would be provided justice while the police took him into custody.

Imran Hashmi told media persons that he had been appointed the notice server at a civil court in Gujranwala. He said that he had been removed from service for taking Rs100 bribe. Hashmi said he was the sole bread earner for his family and had three children.

He said all appeals against his removal had been dismissed. “The only option I had was to kill myself.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 11^th,2014.