LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday sought arguments on an application of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) to become party in the petitions against formation and proceedings of judicial commission (JC) to probe the alleged rigging in 2013 general election.

PTI Punjab president Ejaz Chaudhry had filed the application, saying the proceedings of the JC could not be challenged after its formation. The petitioner’s counsel said assailing the formation of the commission by a citizen was unlawful, pleading the court to dismiss all the petitions against the JC for being non-maintainable.

He argued that all political parties were appearing before the commission and submitting their point of view on the rigging allegations and the PTI should also be made a necessary party in the case.

The court adjourned hearing until April 29 and asked counsel for all the parties to come up with arguments on the PTI’s application.

A.K. Dogar advocate and others had filed the petitions assailing the legality of the judicial commission, saying the constitution of the commission was in violation of the constitution. They stated that the impugned ordinance was not only in violation of Article 225 of the Constitution but was also result of use of force.

job quota: The Lahore High Court on Monday sought a detailed reply from the federal government about the non-implementation of three per cent quota for disabled persons in government appointments.

The court was hearing a petition filed by the Judicial Activism Panel (JAP) pleading that the disabled persons were on roads for their rights and the government failed to resolve the issues with regard to their rights protected in the law.

He pointed out that the government had increased the quota from two to three per cent, but it did not implement it.

He asked the court to direct the government to explain regarding non-implementation of job quota of the disabled persons.

A deputy attorney general told the court that the federal government had instructed all institutions to implement the disabled persons quota in appointments.

Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah directed the law officer to submit a detailed report on the matter by May 8.

LDA City: The Lahore High Court on Monday adjourned the hearing of a petition challenging the public-private partnership project of the LDA City for being unlawful.

Advocate Azhar Siddique in his petition also challenged the jurisdiction of the LDA to launch such projects.

Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah observed that a full bench was yet to announce the judgment on the jurisdiction of the LDA.

He asked the lawyer to wait for the decision and adjourned the hearing till May 18.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2015

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