LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has asked the counsel for the private company to conclude arguments on Friday (today) on a petition seeking registration of an FIR against Minister Khwaja Saad Rafiq and other officials of Pakistan Railways for “illegally taking over” Royal Palm Gold & Country Club.

The club’s management had stated in the petition that the sessions court issued no directions to the police to register the FIR on an application against the minister and other officials of the railways. It said the LHC had, on July 4, allowed the club management through an interim order to manage its services without disturbing possession of railways.

Barrister Syed Ali Zafar argued the contract for operating the golf club also had an arbitration clause, providing a mechanism for resolution of a dispute. However, neither the clause was followed nor was any permission sought from the court to evict the petitioner from the club. He said the railways had committed violation of Article 4 and 10 A of the Constitution.

After hearing Barrister Zafar, Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza directed him to conclude arguments on Friday (today).

MQM CASE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday asked the petitioner to submit a copy of his application filed with the federal government for cancellation of the registration of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).

Earlier, Advocate Ahmad Awais argued on behalf of the petitioner that under the Constitution every political party had to be loyal to the state. He said but the speeches of Altaf Hussain, head of the MQM, had proven the fact that the party and its leadership were disloyal to the country.

He said under Political Parties Ordinance 2002, the federal government had the power to ban any party for being disloyal to the country.

Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah asked the counsel whether the petitioner approached the federal government for banning the party. Advocate Awais said an application was moved to the government three days ago but no action had been taken so far.

The chief justice asked the counsel to submit copy of the application moved to the government. The hearing was adjourned for Sept 6.

Later, the petitioner and other lawyers staged a protest in the high court and chanted slogans against the MQM and its chief Altaf Hussain.

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2016