LHC judge wants larger bench to hear PTI Lahore public meeting case

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has recommended to constitute larger bench in connection with petitions pertaining to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) public meeting in Lahore.

The petitions came up for hearing before the LHC on Thursday. Justice Farooq Haider of the LHC heard the petitions, filed by Aliya Hamza and others. Justice Farooq Haider remarked that the files would be sent to the chief justice within 10 minutes. “This is a matter of public interest. Its constitutional interpretation is a must. This matter be settled once and for all. We are sending all petitions pertaining to permission for a public meeting and pleas for stopping them, to the chief justice. Justice Farooq, while addressing the counsel, said: “You say you held public meeting in Islamabad. According to you, holding public meeting is your constitutional right, but grave allegations were levelled against you.” Counsel Ishtiaq Chaudhry requested the court to fix the case for hearing on Friday. Later, the court recommended to constitute a larger bench on the petitions.