LHC disposes of PTI petition for rally at Minar-i-Pakistan after DC decision
Court refers PTI to legal remedy
The Lahore High Court disposed of a petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf seeking permission to hold a public rally at Minar-i-Pakistan. The court was informed that the deputy commissioner had already rejected the party’s request.
The petition was heard by Justice Mirza Viqas Rauf. It was filed by PTI Lahore President Mian Akram Usman, who asked the court to allow the party to organise the rally.
At the start of the hearing, the judge directed a law officer to obtain instructions from the deputy commissioner. When the hearing resumed, the law officer informed the court that the application had been rejected after a high-level meeting.
He told the court that permission could not be granted because of possible terrorist threats in Lahore. The administration argued that public safety concerns were the main reason behind the decision.
Justice Rauf asked the petitioner’s lawyer under which law the court could grant permission under Article 199 of the Constitution after the deputy commissioner had already made a decision. The judge said the proper legal course was to challenge the deputy commissioner’s order if the petitioner believed it was unlawful.
PTI says request faced delays
According to the petition, PTI submitted an application for a no-objection certificate on July 22. The party said it had assured the authorities that it would fully follow security, traffic and administrative requirements.
The petitioner claimed that despite repeated follow-ups, the deputy commissioner’s office neither approved nor formally rejected the request for several days. He alleged that the matter was delayed through administrative silence.
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The petition argued that the delay effectively amounted to a refusal. It further stated that the alleged inaction violated constitutional rights related to due process, peaceful assembly, freedom of association and freedom of expression.
Meanwhile, PTI announced nationwide protests to mark three years since the imprisonment of its founder Imran Khan and to demand his release. The party said its main gathering for the campaign would be held in Peshawar.
The court did not decide whether the rally should be allowed or not. Instead, it said the deputy commissioner’s decision must first be challenged through the proper legal process, while security concerns remain an important factor for the authorities.
