The Lahore High Court (LHC) has sought a response from the Punjab chief secretary and Deputy Commissioner Lahore by March 20 regarding a petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) seeking permission to hold a rally at Minar-e-Pakistan on March 22, 2025.

Justice Farooq Haider issued the directive while hearing a plea filed by PTI’s Senior Vice President (Central Punjab), Akmal Khan. During the proceedings, Khan’s counsel, Advocate Khurram Latif Khosa, argued that the provincial government was making baseless excuses to deny PTI’s request.

He contended that despite submitting an application to the relevant authorities, the government had resorted to delaying tactics, repeatedly invoking Section 144 – a restriction on public gatherings – which, he claimed, was only enforced when PTI sought to hold rallies.

The petition named the Punjab chief secretary, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Lahore, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Operations, Commissioner Lahore Division, Deputy Commissioner Lahore, and other officials as respondents.

The petitioner stated that he had requested permission from the deputy commissioner’s office to organize a public gathering at Minar-e-Pakistan on March 22.