LHC stays Jhang Chamber elections

The Lahore High Court (LHC), while staying the elections of Jhang Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), has directed Secretary Ministry of Commerce and Secretary JCCI, to explain as to why the elections of JCCI are being conducted without removing discrepancies in voters lists, as were pointed out by Director Trade Organisation (DTO) Islamabad.
The court passed these orders in a petition filed by Muhammad Riaz and others, praying to the court to direct the respondents to finalise the voters' list in accordance with the directions of DTO.
The petitioners through their counsel Haq Nawaz Chattha contended before the court that some non-existent firms are members of JCCI, while some other members had not produced proof of their NTN.
The respondent DTO had declared these members of JCCI ineligible in his decision dated June 9, 2005. It was contended that the respondents failed to finalise the voters' list in accordance with the directions and guidelines provided by respondent DTO.
It was prayed to the court to declare the holding of JCCI elections as illegal and without lawful authority. It was further prayed to the court to restrain the respondents from holding JCCI election without updating the voters' list in accordance with the directions and guidelines of DTO.
The court, after hearing the petitioner's counsel at length, stayed the elections of JCCI and called for a report from the respondents.
LHC cancels bail
FAISALABAD: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has cancelled bail given to a Faisalabad lawyer Gohar Ayub and directed an additional sessions judge to explain why he had granted bail to the accused.
The Peoples Colony Police arrested Gohar Ayub from outside the courtroom. Ayub is accused of firing at the house of his former in-laws in a bid to kidnap his son, and a case had been registered on LHC orders.
He said his daughter Gulnaz was married to Ayub and they had a boy. But l Ayub divorced Gulnaz on January 17.
Complainant said Ayub and his three accomplices came to his house on January 24 to abduct the boy and fired gunshots. He said police did not register the case even though two policemen witnessed the attack. He said the case was registered on May 25 on LHC's intervention but additional sessions judge granted him bail.
He alleged his counsel appeared in trial court to oppose Ayub's bail petition but the judge neither marked his presence on the order sheet nor mentioned his arguments in his order.