LHC rejects request to grant stay order against PAT-led protest movement

LAHORE: A bench of the Lahore High Court referred a petition seeking restraining order against planned protest movement of Pakistan Awami Tehreek-led opposition parties to the Chief Justice to constitute a larger bench to hear the case.

The bench, however, rejected the petitioner’s request to restrain the PAT-led political alliance from launching the protest drive from January 17.

It issued notices to the federal and provincial authorities to submit their response to the petition on next hearing.

On Jan 08, PAT chief Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri announced to launch a protest movement against the PML-N government for failing to bring the culprits of the Model Town incident to justice.

Almost all major opposition parties have announced their support for the movement for justice to the victims of the Model Town massacre.

The movement is aimed at mounting pressure on Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Law Minister Rana Sanaullah to resign for their alleged role in the incident.

“Our demand of resignations has not been accepted. We will no more ask for resignations now, but we will take it by force,” Qadri had said while addressing a press conference following a prolonged steering committee’s meeting in Lahore on Jan 08.

The steering committee, which comprises leaders of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Awami Muslim League, Pak Sarzameen Party, and Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen, was formed to finalize the modalities of the protest movement.