LHC suspends governor’s decision in BZU case

LAHORE

The Lahore High Court on Friday suspended a decision taken by Punjab governor in capacity of chancellor regarding Lahore sub-campus of Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU), Multan.

During hearing of a case about illegality in establishment of the BZU’s Lahore sub-campus, counsel for the sub-campus’s former chairman told a full bench that BZU syndicate had not endorsed the establishment of the Lahore sub-campus.

The management of the sub-campus challenged the syndicate’s decision before the chancellor/governor through a representation, he said, adding that the chancellor also dismissed the representation.

The counsel pointed out that Governor Rafiq Rajwana had been legal adviser to BZU; therefore, ethically it was not appropriate for him to hear the matter of the university. He asked the bench to set aside the chancellor’s order.

The bench headed by Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi suspended the chancellor’s decision and sought arguments from the parties by May 11.

Reply sought: The Lahore High Court on Friday directed the federal government as well as Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to file replies on a petition seeking enforcement of the law against broadcasting television programmes debate on sub-judice matters. Justice Shahid Karim heard initial arguments of the petitioner’s counsel, AK Dogar, and directed a deputy attorney general to seek instructions from the government and Pemra within three weeks. 

drone camera: The Lahore High Court on Friday directed the Punjab government to present copies of three notifications before the court which put a ban on use of drone cameras for media coverage of public meetings.

Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza issued this order on a petition of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf which termed these notifications illegal and unconstitutional. The judge directed a law officer to present these notifications till May 08, the next date of hearing.

PTI MPA Shoaib Siddiqi had filed this petition making respondents to Punjab chief secretary, secretary interior and director general of public relations. The petitioner submitted that he is convener of central administration committee of PTI for the purpose of public gatherings. He said his party is arranging public gatherings to motivate the people and aware them of actual facts relating the corruption of the federal government. The PTI leadership has issued the schedule of public gatherings in different cities of the country as on May 07 in Sialkot, on May 12 in Sargodha and on May 14 in Abbottabad.

Siddiqi said the Punjab government had issued a handout on April 27 based on three notifications issued by additional chief secretary Punjab stating that the government has imposed a ban on coverage of any public rallies through modern devices like drone technology, remote control, heli camera, balloons and UAS system till May 31. It is further mentioned in the handout that a ban has also been imposed on public gatherings outside and within boundary walls without proper permission from the deputy commissioners concerned, the petitioner said.

He requested the court to declare the handout and notifications illegal and unlawful. He requested the court that until the final decision of this petition, operation of impugned handout and notifications be suspended. The court did not pay heed to this plea for interim relief.