LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Wednesday sought assistance from the attorney general and the Punjab advocate general to decide maintainability of a petition seeking a restraining order against “Azadi March” announced by PTI Chairman Imran Khan.

A citizen Kamran filed the petition through Advocate Asad Manzoor Butt and pleaded that the march announced by the PTI against alleged rigging in general election would result in anarchy in the country.

The counsel argued that the protest march would invite anti-democratic forces to prevail.

Know more: Power to hear fundamental rights’ cases intact: IHC

The counsel asked the court to issue an order to the government to meet the demands of opposition parties with dialogue and stop the “azadi march” to protect the political system.

After hearing initial arguments Justice Khalid Mahmood Khan posed a query to the petitioner’s counsel whether the court could pass such an order to the government.

The judge said the court would decide maintainability of the petition before further proceedings on the matter.

The court sought assistance from the attorney general and Punjab advocate general to settle the maintainability of the petition. The judge would resume hearing on Thursday (today).

ACCOUNTANT GENERAL: The Lahore High Court on Wednesday issued a notice to the federal government on a writ petition challenging appointment of the Punjab accountant general.

Former accountant general Imran Iqbal filed the petition saying the controller general accounts was competent authority to make appointment of the AG. However, he said, the auditor general unlawfully removed him from the post and appointed Javed Jahangir as AG.

The petitioner said the auditor general violated a directive issued by the prime minister wherein he defined the powers of controller general accounts and the auditor general.

He asked the court to set aside the appointment of Mr Jahangir and reinstated him to the post.

Justice Farrukh Irfan Khan sought a reply from the government within a fortnight.

Published in Dawn, August 7th, 2014