LAHORE: A Lahore High Court division bench on Wednesday suspended operation of show-cause notices to the district coordination officer, the DIG (operations) and the chief traffic officer by a single bench for not implementing a judicial order against holding of protests/rallies on The Mall.

Representing an appeal of the officers, a government`s counsel argued that the single bench had issued show-cause notices after taking a suo motu against violation of the high court order pertaining to protest demonstrations on The Mall.

The counsel argued that the suo motu notice taken by the judge was not in public interest. He asked the division bench to set aside the notices issued to the three officers.

The bench headed by the chief justice suspended the show-cause notices and adjourned hearing for a week.

Justice Ibadur Rehman Lodhi had taken the suo motu after he and some other judges failed to reach the high court in time on Oct 20 due to a protest outside the Punjab Assembly causing a gridlock on The Mall.

The judge had summoned the DCO, the DIG (Operations) and the CTO on a short notice the same day. Besides issuing show-cause notices under the contempt of court law, the judge had also sought an explanation from the chief minister about compliance of a 2011 order that required the government to ensure smooth movement of traffic in the city, especially on The Mall.

The government was further directed to arrange alternate venues for public processions and protests.