LHC Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed on Thursday, cautioning the Punjab govt against use of state machinery in the PML-N rally today (Friday), sought reply from the government in three weeks. The judge passed the order on two petitions filed separately by Rana Azeem and Kashif Mir assailing that the PML-N was using state machinery for its rally. Azeem submitted that abundance of banners, placards, billboards, signboards and other printed material, which the PML-N had placed throughout The Mall and on the connecting roads to the main artery of the city showed that the PHA was not paid money for the advertisement.
Petitioner Kashif Mir alleged that the PML-N, taking advantage of its rule in Punjab, was using state machinery to arrange the public rally. He alleged that trucks, tractors and other equipment along with official staff were under service of the party for arrangements of the rally when the law strictly prohibited a ruling party to use state machinery for its private purposes.
Punjab Additional Advocate General Hanif Khatana appeared in court and assured on behalf of the government that state machinery or funds were not being used for the PML-N rally and the PML-N government will never do this, as it was unlawful. He said that the rally was being held with funds collected by party members and not from the government kitty. The PHA in writing told the court that the authority did not charge money for banners and placards put on display on The Mall for non-commercial purpose or in the public interest for sake of giving information to the people. It said that political banners fall in the category of which no money was charged.
