Petition for special courts revival dismissed

LAHORE

The Lahore High Court on Friday dismissed a petition seeking reinstatement of special courts established under Protection of Pakistan Act (POPA).

Justice Shams Mahmood Mirza observed that matter raised in the petition was a policy affair of the government. He said the petition was not maintainable before the court.

Advocate Ghazi Ilamuddin had filed the petition saying the federal government promulgated the Protection of Pakistan Act in 2014 to curb terrorism in the country.

He said special courts were also established for trial of the terrorists charged under the law. However, he said, the government did not extend the law after its two-year term expired in 2016 leading to the suspension of the special courts. The lawyer argued that the courts made under POPA should be re-established since the menace of terrorism was yet to be eradicated.

Election stayed: The Lahore High Court chief justice on Friday stayed election of Military Accounts Employees Cooperative Housing Society and summoned registrar of cooperative department with complete record.

Ghaziuddin Babar, candidate for president’s slot, had approached the court against the cooperative department for declaring him ineligible to contest the society’s election. Advocate Waqar A Sheikh argued on behalf of the petitioner that every citizen had the right to take part in election of an association.

He said the decision of the registrar cooperative was against the law. Mian Abdul Sattar, rival candidate, had challenged the eligibility of Babar. Abdul Sattar’s counsel alleged that Babar and his father misappropriated funds of the society.

He said father of the petitioner (Babar) had also signed different projects with the society. He said the petitioner did not meet the election rules of the society. He supported the decision of the registrar cooperative.

Advocate Sheikh refuted the allegations and argued that all the projects singed between the society and the petitioner’s father stood accomplished. He asked the court to set aside the impugned decision of the registrar cooperative.

Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah stayed the election and summoned the registrar cooperative on November 24. The election was scheduled for November 20.