LHC directs DC to decide on PTI’s Lahore rally plea by 5pm

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was directed by the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday to submit a petition to the city’s deputy commissioner (DC) for seeking permission to hold the rally in the provincial capital. The DC Lahore was also instructed by the LHC to make final decision on it by 5pm today.

The orders were given at a hearing on the plea seeking permission for holding a PTI rally at Lahore’s Minar-e-Pakistan monument.

PTI leaders Aliya Hamza and Sheikh Imtiaz Mehmood filed the plea, which was heard by Justice Muhammad Tariq Nadeem and Justice Farooq Haider.

The petitioners had approached the court earlier this week, claiming that the party had consistently been denied permission to hold rallies in Lahore for political reasons.

PTI has been attempting to organize rallies nationwide for several months but has faced repeated refusals from the authorities, citing security concerns and other concerns.

Recently, PTI was successful in holding a public rally on September 8 in Sangjani, Islamabad, however rally was quickly followed by a crackdown on party leaders, some of whom were reportedly arrested from parliamentary premises under “Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Bill, 2024,” which took effect just a day before the rally.

During media talk with journalists from Adiala jail in Rawalpindi, Khan has termed the upcoming rally as a “do-or-die” moment, emphasising that the Constitution guarantees the right to assemble. He urged the nation to participate for their future on September 21 in Lahore.

During today’s LHC hearing, Justice Nadeem noted that the records did not show PTI leader Aliya Hamza had submitted any application for rally permission as required by law.

“Did (Aliya Hamza) submit any application for the rally?” the court asked the District Commissioner, who responded negatively.

When the court inquired about the PTI leader’s situation, her lawyer, Ishtiaq Chaudhry, informed them that she was under house arrest.

Regarding the Lahore rally, Justice Haider pointed out that PTI’s secretary general had requested permission for September 22, while they were seeking it for the 21st instead.

The judge advised them to submit request to the DC, who would make a decision on the matter today.

Justice Nadeem suggested to the province’s chief secretary to designate two or three locations in Lahore for political gatherings to facilitate events without complications.

Furthermore, Justice Haider questioned IGP Punjab citing alleged harassment of PTI workers to which he responded, “No one is being harassed by us. We have not issued any such orders.”

The court then directed the Lahore DC to make a decision on the PTI’s request by 5 PM in accordance with the law and disposed of the plea.