LAHORE: Chief Justice Lahore High Court (LHC) Khwaja Imtiaz Ahmad has constituted a larger bench to hear petitions against the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s "Azadi march".

The larger bench comprises of Justice Khalid Mehmood Khan, Justice Shahid Hameed and Justice Anwarul Haq.

The bench, headed by Justice Mehmood, was formed after the judge on Thursday requested Justice Imtiaz to constitute a larger bench to hear petitions against the march.

The question of a larger bench emerged on Thursday when Justice Mehmood was hearing a petition moved by a citizen, Kamran, on the matter. At the time, senior advocate, A.K Dogar, pointed out that a similar petition was also pending adjudication before another bench of the court.

Dogar had then asked the judge to refer the matter to the chief justice for formation of a larger bench. He was of the view that the petitions carried important legal questions that needed greater interpretation.

Kamran's petition pleads that the march announced by PTI against alleged rigging in 2013 general election would promote anarchy in country.

He said the PTI’s protest march would also damage democratic system in the country and invite anti-democratic forces to prevail. He asked the court to issue an order to the government to meet the demands of opposition parties through dialogue and stop the PTI march to protect the country’s political system.

Tauqir Ghumman contributed to reporting

Opinion

Editorial

Pathways to peace
Updated 27 Apr, 2026

Pathways to peace

NEGOTIATIONS to hammer out the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement took nearly two years before a breakthrough was achieved....
Food-insecure nation
27 Apr, 2026

Food-insecure nation

A NEW UN-backed report has listed Pakistan among 10 countries where acute food insecurity is most concentrated. This...
Migration toll
27 Apr, 2026

Migration toll

THE world should not be deceived by a global migration count lower than the highest annual statistics on record —...
Immunity gap
Updated 26 Apr, 2026

Immunity gap

Pakistan’s Big Catch-Up campaign showed progress but also exposed the scale of gaps in routine immunisation.
Danger on repeat
26 Apr, 2026

Danger on repeat

DISASTERS have typically been framed as acts of nature. Of late, they look increasingly like tests of preparedness...
Loose lips
26 Apr, 2026

Loose lips

PAKISTANIS have by now gained something of an international reputation for their gallows humour, but it seems that...