RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: Chief Justice of Lahore High Court Syed Mansoor Ali Shah on Thursday reserved its decision in a petition challenging the ban on media coverage at the airports.

The journalists’ organizations had approached the court against the ban on media coverage. The petitioners’ counsel alleged that the impugned ban was imposed only cover/secure corruption and smuggling at the airports. He further submitted that the attitude of airport authorities was not good with internal and foreign passengers.

He said that there was no security reason and only aim of the authorities to put under the blankets the rapidly increasing incident of their negligence.

He said that right of information was constitutional right of every citizens and the media coverage was the primary right to provide information. He said that prohibiting media coverage was to take away the freedom of expression and as such violation of the constitution.

The law officer, however, had taken the plea that the ban was imposed due to security reasons.

LHC restrains Dr

Asad from working

as pro-vice of King Edward varsity

Lahore High Court Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah on Thursday restraining Dr Asad Aslam from working as pro-vice of King Edward Medical University sought reply from him within fortnight in a petition of a citizen Iftikhar Ahmad.

The petitioner submitted that the King Edward Medical University Lahore Act 2005 did not allow the appointment of an acting vice chancellor. He said that the government had appointed Dr Asad as acting vice chancellor of the university in violation of the law.

He submitted that under this act, only the pro-vice chancellor could take the administrative control of the university till appointment of a permanent vice chancellor.

The law officer in reply to the petition said that appointment of Dr Asad was temporary. He therefore prayed to the court to dismiss the petition as it was misconceived.

The Chief Justice after hearing the arguments suspended the operation of impugned notification of appointing Dr Asad as pro-vice chancellor and also sought replies from the respondents.