Restricting suspects' movement: Supreme Court admits Punjab government's appeal for regular hearing

The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday admitted for regular hearing an appeal of Punjab government against a Lahore High Court (LHC) decision barring the provincial government from restricting free movement of any suspect for more than three years by placing his name in IV schedule of Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).
When an SC bench resumed the hearing on the appeal, Advocate General Punjab Hanif Khattana told the court that LHC had issued an order on the petition of Shabbir Usmani and three others, wherein the government had been disallowed to limit the free movement of a person more than three years under IV Schedule of ATA.
The AGP pointed out that the movement of a person was restricted under fourth schedule to maintain public order and tranquillity. Under fourth schedule a suspect is required to submit a surety bond for a period of three years and he might be asked to furnish fresh bond at the expiry of three years' period, the AGP maintained. Khatttana said that under the law government was fully authorised to place a person under fourth schedule to maintain public order. After preliminary hearing, the court admitted the appeal for regular hearing.