Chief Secretary Punjab Nasir Mehmood Khosa here on Friday admitted before the Lahore High Court (LHC) that the government failed to successfully implement ban on taking out rallies and processions on Mall Road. Appearing before Chief Justice LHC Justice Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry Nasir said disagreement amongst the stakeholders including traders and media was the main reason of government failure to enforce the ban effectively.
However, he said the government was trying to furnish practical suggestions acceptable to all the stakeholders. He said everybody had freedom to expression and government did not want to make a law, which may conflict with peoples' fundamental rights protected in the constitution.
Mall Road traders asked the court that an ordinance passed by government against rallies/processions on Mall Road should be implemented immediately. The court was hearing a petition filed by Mall Road Trade Union Association seeking direction against the protest demonstrations on the Mall. On previous hearing the government had informed the court that a complete ban had been imposed on taking out rallies or processions on The Mall with effect from July 1st.
This was stated by Home Secretary Punjab in a written reply who further said that an ordinance in this regard had also been issued after the approval by Chief Minister. Prohibition of protest demonstrations on the Mall has been imposed and the same had been shifted to Nasir Bagh and Attique Stadium. The traders had contended that owing to the protests staged on Mall road they had been facing loses in business of millions of rupees.
The association pleaded that the business activity at Mall Road has been badly affected due to frequent protests and rallies. The petitioner association, therefore, prayed to the court to issue a restraining order against holding of protest and rallies on the Mall.