1989 PLP 3047 (MLD)

Petitioner in person. The petitioner who claims to be the President of a political party by the name of "Pakistan lslami Jamhoori Party" contends that he intends to hold a meeting on 23rd March, 1989 at Minar-e-Pakistan from 11.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. to declare party's manifesto. That he applied to the District Magistrate Lahore, respondent No.3 herein for grant of permission to hold the meeting and use the Loud Speaker but his application was ignored. Even the telegram sent to him as well as the Chief Secretary went unheeded. The petitioner who has been heard in person submits that Pakistan Muslim League has declared to convene a meeting at Minar-e-Pakistan on 23rd March, 1989 but his application has not been responded by respondents Nos.2 and

3. Their this silence has been dubbed by the petitioner as mala fide and attributed to political rivalry with him of respondent No.l and subordination of respondents Nos.2 and 3 to the latter. Through this writ petition a direction is sought to be issued to them to permit the petitioner to convene the meeting.

2. The petitioner is quite a familiar face in the High Court who claiming as a social and political worker not unoften invokes writ jurisdiction to raise novel issues in which he seldom has any personal interest. To test his bona fides, certain inquiries have been made from him by the Bench. He admits that his party's manifesto has not been printed so far much less to be circulated. He is not in a position to produce a copy thereof for perusal of the Bench. The party does not maintain any bank account. Though it is said to be in existence for the last 2 or 2 1/2 years but admittedly it did not participate in the last General Elections and is not even introduced to the Election Commission. The petitioner himself is not well conversant with the true import of Resolution of 23rd March, 1989, which allegedly prompted him to hold the meeting at Minar-e-Pakistan.

3. It is noticable that the averment appearing in para No.4 of the writ petition is indicative of only convening of a meeting presumably a party meeting and not a public meeting.

4. As Pakistan Muslim League has already made wide publicity to hold a public meeting at Minar-e-Pakistan during the course of hearing of the writ petition, it was suggested to the petitioner that the District Administration can be asked to permit him to utilize Mochi Gate Lawns, from where some of the known leaders of the sub-continent, started their political career but this suggestion is not acceptable to him. Though the petitioner denies that the institution of the writ petition is in fact intended to be made as a vehichle of publicity but I entertain doubts about his bona fides. Grant of relief under writ jurisdiction is discretionary and in the circumstances of the case I would not like to exercise this discretion in favour of the petitioner. Dismissed in limine. H.B.T./M-1365/L Petition dismissed.