LHC seeks response from Punjab govt over dismissal of factory workers during lockdown.

Byline: Rana Bilal

The Lahore High Court on Monday sought a detailed response from the Punjab government on a petition challenging the dismissal of hundreds of thousands of factory workers and private employees during the lockdown imposed in the province to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Accepting the petition for hearing, LHC Chief Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan directed the provincial government to submit a detailed report on the workers' dismissal at the next hearing on April 23 (Thursday), adding that a decision will be made after going over the relevant ordinance and the government's response.

The Punjab government, Department of Industries and Commerce, and the Department of Labour have been named as respondents in the petition that was filed by Advocate Ishtiaq A Chaudhry.

Chaudhry pleaded before the court that the Islamabad commissioner had prevented workers from being dismissed by issuing a notification. "The Sindh government has also taken steps to the same effect," he said.

According to the...