Bad for business: LHC dismisses plea against closing shops at 8pm

LAHORE:

Lahore High Court on Thursday dismissed a petition against the government’s decision to shut down markets and shops at 8pm to conserve electricity during the summer. The court ruled that the petition was not maintainable as it was a policy matter.

Lahore Anjuman-i-Tajran had approached the LHC through a writ petition. They said the decision to shut down markets at 8pm was a violation of the fundamental rights of businessmen. They said this would hamper economic activity and increase unemployment. The counsel representing them requested the court to set aside the government’s decision. The court remarked that it was a policy matter and the court could not interfere in it. If markets were allowed to remain open late at night, how can electricity be provided to the masses, the court observed. The court then dismissed the plea.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 17^th, 2015.