LAHORE: Justice Farooq Haider of the Lahore High Court on Tuesday recused himself from hearing a petition challenging the imposition of Section 144 across Punjab and sent the case back to the Chief Justice for assignment to another bench.
Petition Challenges Section 144 Restrictions
Advocate Azhar Siddique appeared on behalf of petitioner Sheikh Imtiaz and argued that imposing restrictions across the entire province without sufficient legal justification was unlawful.
The petitioners challenged the prohibition on gatherings of five or more people and asked the court to immediately suspend the Section 144 notification until a final decision on the petition.
They also questioned possible detentions under the Maintenance of Public Order framework and any potential suspension of mobile phone or internet services, arguing that such measures required a clear legal basis.
The petition requested the Lahore High Court to call for the written orders, security assessments and relevant cabinet decisions relied upon by the provincial authorities while imposing the restrictions.
Public reporting shows that Sheikh Imtiaz Mahmood, Ejaz Shafi and other opposition lawmakers had earlier approached the Lahore High Court through Advocate Azhar Siddique against province-wide Section 144 restrictions, arguing that blanket restrictions on peaceful assembly affected constitutional rights.
Case Sent Back for New Bench Assignment
Separately, the Punjab government imposed Section 144 across the province for 10 days on October 6, barring gatherings of five or more people. The government cited what it described as a “serious and imminent threat” to public peace and the safety of life and property.
Following Justice Farooq Haider’s recusal, the matter will now be placed before the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court for further assignment.