LAHORE: Lahore High Court Chief Justice Aalia Neelum on Wednesday refused to proceed with a contempt petition about alleged use of public funds for publicity campaigns of political figures until the petitioner pays the fine previously imposed on her.

The chief justice took up the petition filed by Ashba Kamran and asked whether she had deposited the fine imposed by the court. The petitioner, however, told the court that she had not yet paid the fine.

At this, the chief justice directed the petitioner to first deposit the fine and then the court would proceed with the case, granting her time until Thursday (today) to deposit the amount.

In her petition, Ms Kamran had sought contempt of court proceedings against the Punjab chief minister, chief secretary and provincial assembly speaker, alleging wilful defiance of a 2022 Supreme Court order that barred the use of public funds for personal and political publicity.

During the last hearing, the chief justice had asked the petitioner, “You have come here in a contempt case. Where is the petition on which an order was issued?”

The chief justice had observed that all relevant aspects should be taken into consideration while filing a petition.

The chief justice had imposed a Rs100,000 fine on the petitioner and told her that the court would hear the petition only after the fine was deposited.

Published in Dawn, September 24th, 2026