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The Lahore High Court has dismissed a petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) seeking permission to hold a public gathering at Minar-e-Pakistan. Justice Mirza Waqas Rauf announced the written decision on a petition filed by Mian Usman Akram. The petitioner had asked the court to allow the party to hold a rally at Minar-e-Pakistan. He argued that refusing permission for the gathering violated the constitutional right to peaceful assembly. The petition referred to Article 16 of the Constitution. The article protects the right of citizens to assemble peacefully and without arms, subject to reasonable restrictions imposed by law. The court, however, noted that the right to peaceful assembly does not mean that every gathering can be held without following the relevant legal procedure. Under the applicable law, permission for a public gathering is granted through the relevant administrative authorities. The deputy commissioner is responsible for considering such requests and issuing an NOC where required. During the proceedings, the government’s lawyer informed the court that a meeting had already been held under the deputy commissioner to consider the PTI’s request. The meeting reviewed the security and law and order situation in the area. Officials recommended that the proposed rally should not be allowed because of security concerns. The written judgment also noted the nature of Minar-e-Pakistan as a public place. The court observed that the site is regularly visited by citizens for recreational and other public activities. According to the government’s submission, the deputy commissioner had already taken a decision on the PTI’s application. The request for permission to hold the rally was rejected on August 3. The court observed that the administrative authority had already decided the matter. Therefore, the petition could not be entertained as a request for permission that was still pending before the deputy commissioner. The Lahore High Court consequently dismissed the petition.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has rejected claims by the Afghan Taliban that weapons are being smuggled from Pakistan into Afghanistan, calling the allegation baseless and contrary to established facts. In a statement, Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said the allegation appeared to be an attempt to divert international attention from the more serious security concerns emerging from Afghan territory. The ministry said Afghanistan already possesses a large quantity of modern weapons and military equipment left behind after the withdrawal of US and allied forces. According to the ministry, the value of the abandoned military equipment has been estimated at around $7.2 billion. Pakistan also pointed to Afghanistan’s large stockpiles of Soviet-era weapons. These weapons, it said, accumulated during decades of conflict in the country and remain another major source of arms available on Afghan soil. The ministry argued that attributing such weapons to Pakistan was misleading. It said the claim could shift attention away from the presence of militant groups operating from Afghanistan. Pakistan has repeatedly raised concerns over militant activity originating from Afghan territory. Islamabad maintains that terrorist groups continue to find shelter and operational space there. The ministry said these groups were allegedly using Afghan territory to plan, support and carry out attacks against Pakistan. It urged the Afghan Taliban authorities to focus on addressing militant safe havens instead of making what Pakistan described as unsupported allegations against Islamabad. “Afghan Taliban” authorities, according to the statement, should take effective measures against terrorist groups operating from their territory. Pakistan also called on Afghan authorities to honour their commitments and ensure that Afghan soil is not used for terrorism against Pakistan or any other country. The latest statement comes amid continued tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan over security and cross-border militancy. Islamabad has repeatedly demanded concrete action against groups that it says are involved in attacks inside Pakistan. Pakistan has also stressed that the issue should be addressed through practical measures rather than accusations. The ministry maintained that Afghanistan’s existing weapons stockpiles and the continued presence of militant groups are important factors in the regional security situation. It said efforts to blame Pakistan for the presence of weapons in Afghanistan should not distract the international community from addressing terrorism and militant activity based in the region.