LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Tuesday sustained an office objection and dismissed a petition seeking a restraining order against holding of next general election without bringing the perpetrators of May 9 riots to justice.

The registrar office had questioned the maintainability of the petition, saying the petitioner was not an aggrieved person.

Justice Ali Baqar Najafi upheld the office’s objection and dismissed the petition as not maintainable.

Petitioner Azhar Abbas contended that the violent protests of May 9 changed the political situation of the country. He said all political parties were involved in a blamegame and holding each other responsible for the riots.

He said a thorough investigation was needed to be carried out to bring the perpetrators of May 9 events to justice. He asked the court to restrain the election commission from holding the election in the country unless the culprits of the violent protests were punished.

Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2023