LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Monday extended the stay order against the distribution of motorcycles among students by the Punjab chief minister and directed the government to present a policy keeping in view the environmental impacts.

Justice Shahid Karim also expressed concern over the statements of Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari and other ministers criticising the court decision against the government’s policy of distributing 1,000 electric and 19,000 petrol-run motorbikes.

Addressing Advocate General Punjab (AGP) Khalid Ishaq, the judge said the ministers should avoid giving statements on the court proceedings relating to smog. He observed that the ministers had many other issues to speak on.

“They (ministers) do not know what they are saying,” Justice Karim added.

Expresses displeasure over minister’s reaction

The AGP assured the court that no minister would issue statements on judicial decisions, saying a full compliance with the court orders would be ensured.

The judge said the government should provide electric buses instead of motorcycles to students until a new policy was formulated.

He directed the principal law officer to submit a detailed report by May 17 on the motorcycles distribution and environmental policy.

On May 10, Justice Karim had restrained the provincial government from distributing both electric and petrol-run motorcycles among the students.

The judge observed that smog and environmental pollution had already increased significantly.

He had also remarked that the students, if provided motorcycles, would do wheelie on roads or flock around girls’ colleges.

“Providing buses to schools and colleges will reduce traffic congestion,” he recommended the government.

Reacting to the LHC order, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari had stated that policy-making was the mandate of the executive and it did not need dictation from any other quarter.

She said the court’s justification for restraining the government from distributing motorbikes among the students was irrational, adding that no one should interfere in the policy matters of the government.

Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2024