LHC rejects plea against petrol ban for bikers without helmets

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday rejected a petition seeking withdrawal of court orders that barred motorcyclists without helmets from getting petrol.

Declaring the appeal inadmissible, a two-member bench of the LHC, headed by Justice Shams Mehmood, remarked that the court order helped bikers remain safe.

“Is it not into your knowledge that 75 per cent of road accident victims visit hospitals to get their head injuries treated?” the court asked the petitioner.

Justice Shams said the court had imposed the ban keeping in view merits of the case. “Should we impose on you a fine for bringing such a case?” he asked.

The petitioner’s counsel apologised to the court, after which the LHC bench dismissed the petition without imposing any fine.

The LHC on December 27 had ruled that petrol stations would not sell fuel to any motorcyclist without a safety helmet.

According to details, the LHC heard the case pertaining to the use of helmets where Justice Ali Akbar Qureshi had ordered the authorities concerned to seal petrol pumps who fail to comply with the order. It is pertinent to mention here that the LHC had declared it mandatory for pillion riders to also wear helmets from December 1.