LAHORE: A Lahore High Court full bench on Thursday sought personal appearance of the Punjab chief secretary, the inspector general of police (IGP), the commissioner and the deputy commissioner in relation to petitions filed by Pakistan Tehreek-iInsaf (PTI) seeking permission for a rally scheduled on Sept 21.

Insaf Lawyers` Forum-Pakistan President Ishtiaq A Khan and Advocate Khurram Latif Khan Khosa appeared on behalf of the petitioners including PTI former MNA Aliya Hamza Malik, MPA Imtiaz Mahmood Sheikh and Akmal Khan.

The lawyers said the district government did not permit the petitioners to hold their party`s rally at Minar-i-Pakistan. They pointed out that the DC had been delaying adecision on the applications filed by the petitioners for a rally.

The lawyers argued that holding a peaceful rally was a constitutional right of every political party, and no one can be deprived of their fundamental rights.

They asked the court to order the government to permit the PTI rally at Minar-i-Pakistan and also restrain the police from harassing and arresting the workers of the party.

Headed by Justice Farooq Haider, the full bench directed a law officer to ensure personal appearance of the respondent authorities in the court on Friday (today).

The bench also summoned Advocate General of Punjab Khalid Ishaq.

Justice Tariq Nadeem andJustice Ali Zia Bajwa were other members of the bench.

The same full bench disposed of a petition seeking to block PTPs rallies in Punjab, declaring it unjustified.

The bench expressed displeasure with the petitioner`s lawyer, questioning the validity of such a request.

Justice Bajwa questioned, `What kind of petition is this, and how can such a petition be filed?` Advocate Nadeem Sarwar, the petitioner`s counsel, argued that the petition was filed to highlight violation of fundamental rights.

He said no public rally could be held without permission by the authorities.

However, Justice Bajwa observed that the petition should be dismissed with a fine ofRs100,000. The lawyer was given the option to either withdraw the petition or the court should decide it on merits.

The counsel chose to withdraw the petition and the bench disposed it of being withdrawn.

A citizen, Mirza Wahid Rafiq, filed the petition citing `hate` speeches made by the PTI leaders at a previous rally held in Islamabad.

Earlier, Justice Haider took up the petitions related to the PTI rally in a single bench and recommended the chief justice to form a larger bench to decide the matter.

Later, Chief Justice Aalia Neelum constituted the full bench headed by Justice Haider, which heard the petitions.

-Staff Reporter