The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday directed Lahore Deputy Commissioner (DC) Rafia Haider and Aurat March organisers to sit together and finalise the location for the March 8 rally by 2pm today.<\/p>\n
The Aurat March organising committee had last month requested a no objection certificate (NOC) from the district administration to hold a rally on March 8 at Nasser Bagh, Lahore, followed by a march around the perimeter of the park.<\/p>\n
However, DC Haider had rejected the plea citing \u201cthe current security scenario, threat alerts, and law and order situation, and in light of activities like controversial cards and banners for awareness of women\u2019s rights and the strong reservation of the general public and religious organizations, especially JI\u2019s (Jamaat-i-Islami) women\u2019s and student wings, who had also announced a programme against the Aurat March.\u201d<\/p>\n
Subsequently, Aurat March organisers had submitted a petition to the LHC, under Article 199 (jurisdiction of high court) of the Constitution, with DC Haider, the Punjab government, Lahore\u2019s capital city police officer and National Commission for Human Rights Punjab member Nadeem Ashraf as respondents.<\/p>\n
During the previous proceedings, Justice Anwar Hussain had summoned DC Haider and Security Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dost Muhammad in court on March 7.<\/p>\n
As the hearing resumed today, the judge remarked that these matters were brought to court every time.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the DC told the court that during a meeting of the District Intelligence Committee, it had emerged that the law and order situation in Lahore was not good.<\/p>\n
She went on to say that this year Aurat March organiser had submitted a request to hold the rally at Nasser Bagh.<\/p>\n
\u201cPSL (Pakistan Super League) matches are also underway in the city because of which there is always movement of players and security is required,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Even in the second intelligence committee meeting, the official added, it was concluded that the security situation in Lahore was not good.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, the public prosecutor suggested that the march could be held outside the Lahore Press Club.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen why are rallies and processions being held in the city?\u201d Justice Hussain asked here. \u201cWhen a political leader appears, the police become active.\u201d<\/p>\n
At that, the DC responded that a clash had taken place during last year\u2019s Aurat March.<\/p>\n
However, the judge interjected that the district administration could not stop the organiser from holding a rally in the city and declared the DC\u2019s notification of not allowing the rally as invalid.<\/p>\n
The court also observed that it was the responsibility of the administration to maintain peace and order. \u201cAt the same time, the Aurat March should also ensure that there is no chaos at the rally.\u201d<\/p>\n
Justice Hussain remarked that when political parties held rallies, they too sat with the district administration. He then instructed Aurat March organisers to sit with the administration, finalise the venue for the rally and inform the court by 2pm.<\/p>\n
Subsequently, the hearing was adjourned.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday directed Lahore Deputy Commissioner (DC) Rafia Haider and Aurat March organisers to sit together and finalise the location for the March 8 rally by 2pm today. The Aurat March organising committee had last month requested a no objection certificate (NOC) from the district administration to hold a rally […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":318039,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-318032","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-national"},"yoast_head":"\n