LAHORE, Nov 8: The Lahore High Court on Thursday adjourned a petition seeking an action against the responsible for death of a woman whose ambulance had failed to reach hospital due to a protest by the Punjab Paramedical Alliance (PPA).

Earlier SSP (Operations) Sohail Sukhera informed the court that Section 144 had been imposed on all important roads to ensure uninterrupted traffic flow in the city. He said stern action was being taken against the people who blocked roads in the name of protest or strike.

The court deferred further hearing till Dec 20 and directed the counsel for the petitioner and the government to come up with final arguments.

Lawyer Mian Asad Mahmood filed the petition contending that protests and blocking of the traffic had been causing disturbance for public at large and during the PPA’s protest, Saleema Bibi, en-route to the Punjab Institute of Cardiology for emergency medical treatment, had lost her life.

The petitioner said PPA had a right to protest but they did not have right to stop any ambulance carrying a patient.

He pointed out that protests had been increasing day by day and the city was witnessing at least two to three protests daily.

He requested the court for directions to the government to devise a strategy to regulate protests. He also sought stern action against PPA President Malik Munir.