PAT allowed to hold sit-in as one-time exception

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court Wednesday granted one-time exception to Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) and allowed it to hold sit-in on Istanbul Chowk, Mall Road, directing the party to wrap up the show before 10pm. 

In a written order, Justice Mamoon Rashid Sheikh held since the arrangements had already been made by the PAT to hold the sit-in and in order to avoid law and order situation, “I am inclined to allow respondent No 8 and the affectees to hold the sit-in as a one-time exception and not to be quoted as a precedent.”

Earlier, Barrister Syed Ali Zafar and Advocate Ishtiaq Ahmad Ch appeared before the court to represent the PAT during hearing of a petition filed by Mall Road Traders’ Association’s President Naeem Mir against the sit-in.

From the government side, Advocate General of Punjab Shakilur Rehman Khan was present in the court along with CCPO Amin Wains and DIG Operations Dr Haider Ashraf.

At the start of the hearing, Justice Sheikh gave some time to the parties to reach an out of court settlement on the issue. Senior advocate Khwaja Tariq Rahim also joined the dialogue on behalf of the PAT.

However, deadlock persisted after having long discussion between the parties as the PAT was not ready to change the venue of the sit-in. Later, they appeared before the judge in chamber.

The order released by the court said the counsel of PAT undertook to remain confined to selected area from Istanbul Chowk to Tollinton Market and would wind up the sit-in between 9:30pm to 10pm.

As to the demand of the PAT and affectees for the release of Justice Najafi’s inquiry report into the Model Town incident, the counsel of the PAT also submitted that they shall not call into question the role of the high court/judiciary nor any judge of the court but shall instead move a representation before the LHC chief justice to this effect. The petitioner side as a one-time exception also agreed to the suggestion made by the counsel of PAT, the order said.

Concluding the verdict, Justice Sheikh observed that the political parties and other sections of society shall endeavour to find a via media for holding assemblies, gatherings, sit-ins, rallies, processions, demonstrations and Jalsas, etc. in future on the Mall in line with the LHC order issued in 2011 and the policy made by the government.