LAHORE: A Lahore High Court full bench on Friday disposed of a petition against Nov 30 sit-in of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf after the federal government gave an undertaking to maintain law and order during the protest activity.

A deputy attorney general told the bench that the government had allowed the opposition party to hold its sit-in ( dharna). He said the effective measures were being taken to ensure the law and order situation too. He said the government would not let the protesters jeopardise the rights of other citizens.

Headed by Justice Khalid Mahmood Khan, the bench expressed concern over the move to drag the court in the matter when the impugned sit-in had already been allowed by the government.

The bench, however, disposed of the petition in the light of the government undertaking.

A senior lawyer, A.K Dogar, had filed the petition saying the PTI threatened to overthrow the PML-N government by holding a sit-in in Islamabad. He said no state could tolerate utterances or actions that threatened to overthrow the government by unlawful or unconstitutional means.

He said if a government had to survive, it must have the power to protect itself against unlawful conduct.

The lawyer asked the court to direct the federal government to act in accordance with law and restrain Imran Khan from actions likely to cause disorder and anarchy in the country.

The bench directed the Punjab advocate general to come up with more arguments on another petition seeking action against Imran under treason charges. The bench will resume hearing on Dec 2.

SHEIKH RASHID:The full bench also disposed of a petition seeking a high treason case against Pakistan Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rasheed after a law officer said a case had been registered against him.

Published in Dawn, November 29th , 2014