Background of the case is that petitioner was distributing/disseminating a prescribed book Tafseer-e-Sagheera which was alleged to be an offence under Punjab Holy Quran (Printing and Recording) (Amendment) Act, 2021. The FIR stated that the aforesaid act was done in the year 2019. The main thrust of the judgment of Honourable Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa in his judgement dated 06.02.2024 was that under Article 12(1) of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan a person cannot punished for an act which is not a crime when it was done. [comment: it is a settled principle of criminology tha ..read more

Trees play a vital role in overcoming the environment pollution issues. There are numerous laws which either protect the cutting of the trees or give directions to plant the trees in respect of specific class of people. The laws which are applicable in Punjab, Pakistan with respect to cutting or plantation of trees are discussed as below: The Parks and Horticulture Authority Act, 2012  pertains to green areas, green belts, heritage parks and public parks in Lahore. The Act prohibits tree cutting. The Government may by notification, extend it to any other areas of the Punjab. The Punjab Pl ..read more

Smog is a major problem in the fields of Punjab and specifically in Lahore. The problem gets adverse in October and continues till March each year when air pollution increases due to low wind pressures resulting in poor air quality index resulting in smog. The laws, rules and policies are devised by the Government for tackling the smog issues and the major problem is perhaps implementation of these laws, rules and policies in its true spirit and regulate the actions/omissions of public functionaries to deal with such laws. The laws applicable in Punjab, Pakistan dealing with issues of air poll ..read more

     Download Pdf version of Budget 2023-24 Some important points from Budget: The government of Pakistan presented budget for fiscal year 2023-24 on Friday. Business Recorder takes a look at some of the key highlights of the documents. o   Economic growth target fixed at 3.5% for fiscal year 2023-24 o   Inflation forecasted to average at 21% o   Tax-to-GDP ratio to stand at 8.7% o   Current account deficit to stand at $6 billion by end of fiscal year 2023-24 o   Government has allocated Rs1.8 trillion f ..read more

In respect of the issue in hand for conducting elections of Provincial Assembly of Punjab within 90 days Mr. Justice Athar Minallah has given a detailed decision in support of his short order dated 23/02/2023 for dismissing the constitutional petitions and suo moto proceedings. The learned judge did not decide the questions of law  which were under consideration in the petitions including the question of conducting elections within 90 days from the date of dissolution of assemblies and instead rendered his judgment on the technical ground of discussing the issue of jurisdiction of Supreme ..read more

In respect of the issue in hand for conducting elections of Provincial Assembly of Punjab within 90 days two judges of the larger bench namely Mr. Justice Mansor Shah for himself and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail have given their verdict (the “Verdict”). The judges have declared SMC No. 1 of 2023 and the two Const. Petitions No. 1 & 2 of 2023 (the “Petitions”) under Article 184(3) of the Constitution as premature and do not constitue a fit case to be brought before Supreme Court at this point in time. Accordingly, the learned judges dismissed the aforementioned constitution petitions and d ..read more

A dispute arose in appointing a date for elections in Punjab after dissolution of Provincial Assembly of Punjab. A political party i.e. Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (“PTI”) filed a writ petition in the Lahore High Court, Lahore under Article 199 of the Constitution. The single bench of Lahore High Court, Lahore decided the writ petition on 10.02.2023 and directed the Election Commission of Pakistan (“ECP”) to immediately announce the date of the elections, after consultation with the Governor of Punjab. The ECP and the Governor of Punjab preferred intra-court appeals (“ICAs”) before the Division ..read more

The following questions were framed in Suo Moto case of Supreme Court (SMC No. 1 of 2023)  regarding conducting the elections of Punjab Provincial Assembly in light of the Constitution of Pakistan: Who has the constitutional responsibility and authority for appointing the date for the holding of a general election to a Provincial Assembly upon its dissolution in the various situations envisaged by and under the Constitution? How and when this constitutional responsibility is to be discharged? What are the constitutional responsibilities and duties of the Federation and the Province with ..read more

The profession of lawyers plays a pivotal role in the administration of justice, the defense of human rights, democracy and the rule of law. However, the incidents of assault, criminal force, intimidation and threats caused to advocates, while they discharge their professional duties, have reached alarming heights. This has also resulted in law and order situations and deficiencies in rendering professional services by advocates to their clients. In order to protect advocates from the aforesaid assaults, criminal force, intimidation, and threats, it was necessary to enact legislation to protec ..read more

DHA City Decision Full Text DHA City Verdict is a l and mark judgement given by Honourable Supreme Court of Pakistan in the Human Rights case No. 96122 of 2018. The Honourable Supreme Court came to the rescue of more than eleven thous and helpless plot holders who had been shuttling in the h ands of mighty institutions for above a decade for their legitimate and bonafide rights. The Apex Court came to the rescue of the allottees of Defense Housing Authority “DHA” who were running from pillar to post to get justice. The Apex Court observed that the matter has grossly been mish andled in order ..read more