LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Monday sought assistance of the attorney general of Pakistan to decide maintainability of a petition seeking contempt proceedings against Imran Khan and Dr Tahirul Qadri for holding Azadi and Inqilab marches, respectively, followed by sit-ins (dharnas).

A three-member full bench was hearing the petition filed by a citizen when counsel for the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf defended the protest activities and sit-in in Islamabad.

He said a same case was pending before the Supreme Court and the court had ruled that holding peaceful protests was legal right of the masses. He said the PTI was protesting for the rights of citizens.

The bench headed by Justice Khalid Mahmood Khan said the court would see the limitation of the protesting parties and impact of their activities on fundamental rights of other masses.

The counsel asked the court to adjourn the matter in the light of the proceedings pending before the apex court.

Contempt proceedings against Imran, Qadri

The bench postponed hearing and directed the attorney general to assist the court on maintainability of the contempt petition. The bench also sought record of the proceedings before the SC.

Justice Shahid Hameed Dar and Justice Muhammad Anwarul Haq were other members of the bench.

Hearing another petition for putting a ban on Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), the bench directed the Punjab home secretary to submit an explanation about alleged mislay of a judicial inquiry about a life attempt on Dr Qadri some 23 years ago.

A citizen, Amjad Ali, filed the petition and contended that Dr Qadri had been trying to create anarchy in the country by delivering provoking speeches at public gatherings. He said the PAT leader caused an unrest and also risked the law and order situation in the country.

He pointed out that a judicial commission headed by Justice Akhtar Husain of the LHC had declared the murder attack on Dr Qadri a drama. He said the inquiry judge had also recommended medical examination of Dr Qadri doubting his mental health.

A deputy attorney general told the bench that the commission report was missing from the record of the high court and the home department. The judge also directed the LHC registrar to file a reply about unavailability of the report.

The bench will resume hearing on Oct 15.

Published in Dawn, September 30th , 2014