The Lahore High Court on Wednesday allowed the lawyers to hold rally against NATO attack at The Mall today (Thursday), suspending the Section 144 imposed by the DCO to ban anti-government protests in the city. Justice Khalid Khan passed the order on an application filed by Lahore Bar Association (LBA) Secretary Farhad Shah challenging the ban on rallies. Farhad’s counsel and LBA President Shahzad Sheikh pleaded that the LBA had planned to hold a peaceful rally from Aiwan-e-Adil to Charring Cross on The Mall to show solidarity with the armed forces and against NATO attack at Mohmand Agency. However, he said, on directions from the government the DCO had imposed a ban on rallies, processions and meetings under U/S 144 CrPC in the city to curtail ongoing protests against the US and NATO. He said the government was afraid of the protests and had imposed a ban by using Section 144 as a tool, adding that the government was so confused that the notification, issued by the DCO on November 29, was dated November 28. Shahzad said the government knew that the lawyers had planned the rally and was deliberately trying to stop them from protesting in a matter of national significance. The court after hearing the arguments suspended the operation of notification to the extent of the scheduled rally of lawyers and allowed them to hold the protest.
He said the government should have the courage to listen to what people had to say, adding that the traders of the Hall Road and The Mall had announced their full support and would also participate in the rally on Thursday.
REPORT SOUGHT IN SAPNA CASE: An additional district and sessions judge (AD&SJ) on Wednesday sought a report by December 7 from Defence Police Station SHO on a petition seeking registration of a case against former Punjab chief minister Dost Muhammad Khosa and his accomplices for killing his ex-wife, Sapna Khan.
AD&SJ Nazeer Ahmad passed the order on a petition filed by Misal Khan, father of model Sapna Khan, through counsel Azhar Siddique.
Dispensers file petition to be allowed to work as doctors: Justice Farrukh Arfan of Lahore High Court on Wednesday issued notices to PMDA, PMA and Punjab government on a petition seeking permission for dispensers of public hospitals to open clinics and perform duties as medical practitioners. The petition was filed by Ghaus Muhammad and Iftikhar Hussain, dispensers in government hospitals.
The Mall, free for all
