Court orders protection of private housing society’s residents

Wire excerpt

ISLAMABAD: The Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi Bench has directed the Deputy Commissioner Rawalpindi to ensure that residents of a private housing society are not subjected to any adverse action or harassment merely for forming a welfare association. Justice Jawad Hassan passed the order while hearing a petition filed by Adnan Saeed and other residents of University Town. The petitioners had challenged show-cause notices issued by the society’s administration regarding the formation of an association without prior approval or authorisation from the management. During the hearing, counsel for the petitioners, A. Ammar Sehri, argued that the notices issued on June 11, were an infringement of the fundamental right of citizens to peaceful assembly guaranteed under Article 16 of the Constitution. The counsel contended that every citizen has the constitutional right to assemble peacefully and without arms, subject to reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the interest of public order. He argued that the society’s action of issuing notices against residents for forming an association was without lawful justification. After hearing the arguments, the court directed the management/…