LAHORE, Jan 31: The Lahore High Court registrar office on Wednesday fixed with an objection a constitutional petition, challenging detention of nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan before Justice Muhammad Muzammil Khan for Thursday (today).

The registrar office in the objection said the petition should be filed before the LHC Rawalpindi bench.

However, petitioner’s counsel Iqbal Jafree submitted that since the Punjab home secretary, the respondent No 1, was residing in Lahore the petition be fixed at the LHC principal seat in Lahore.

The petitioner said the Pakistani government had detained the nuclear scientist on some pressure. He sought Dr Khan’s release and his production before the court.

DIRECTION: Lahore High Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Husain Chaudhry on Wednesday directed the City District Government Lahore to come up with a complete detail of contractors and vehicle-lifters operating in the city on Feb 22.

The chief justice observed that prima facie all contracts given by the government to car-lifters seemed to be illegal and their legal status would have to be justified.

The court further observed that operation of unregistered car-lifters was entirely against the law.

The court gave the observation while hearing a petition of advocate M.D Tahir, challenging the operation of vehicle-lifters in the city and their legal status.

Earlier, an additional advocate general informed the court that a number of vehicle-lifters had been operating in the city without having any identity.