LHC summons DC, SSP security on Aurat March petition challenging NOC refusal for March 8 rally.

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday summoned Lahore District Commissioner (DC) Rafia Haider and Security Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dost Muhammad on a petition filed by Aurat March organisers against the administration's decision to deny them permission to stage a rally in the city citing 'security concerns'.

The Aurat March organising committee had last month requested a no objection certificate (NOC) from the district administration to hold a rally on March 8 at Nasser Bagh, Lahore, followed by a march around the perimeter of the park.

However, DC Haider had rejected the plea citing 'the current security scenario, threat alerts, and law and order situation, and in light of activities like controversial cards and banners for awareness of women's rights and the strong reservation of the general public and religious organizations, especially JI's (Jamaat-i-Islami) women's and student wings, who had also announced a programme against the Aurat March.'

Subsequently, Aurat March organisers had submitted a petition to the LHC today, under Article 199 (jurisdiction of high court) of the Constitution, with DC Haider, the Punjab government, Lahore's capital city police officer and National Commission for Human Rights Punjab member Nadeem Ashraf as respondents.

The LHC registrar had fixed the petition for hearing before Justice Muzammil Akhtar Shabbir today.

However, as the proceedings commenced, Justice Shabbir excused himself from hearing the case citing 'personal reasons' and sent the petition to the LHC chief justice.

The case was later fixed for hearing in front of Justice Anwar Hussain.

Lahore High Court Bar Association secretary Sabahat Rizvi and Advocate Asad Jamal appeared in court on behalf of the petitioner.

During the proceeding, Justice Hussain summoned DC Haider and SSP Muhammad to court on Tuesday (March 7).

The petition

The Aurat March petition requested that the LHC set aside the DC's order for being 'arbitrary, discriminatory and ultra vires' of various constitutional articles, adding that its operation should also be suspended till adjudication on the plea.

It requested that the respondents be 'directed to fully facilitate the petitioners and all the women of Lahore to peacefully participate in the Aurat March being organised at Nasir Bagh'.

The plea argued that the DC's order was 'arbitrary and colourable exercise of power and is in clear violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed in the Constitution [...] The...