LAHORE, JAN 17 (DNA) – A three-judge bench of Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday announced the reserved decision on petitions challenging protest sit-in of the opposition parties at Mall Road in Lahore.

The bench granted conditional permission to Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) to stage protest sit-in till 12am at the main artery of provincial capital.

Earlier today, the bench had reserved its verdict on the petitions filed by Mall Road Traders Association and Lawyers’ Foundation seeking the court injunctions against sit-in announced by Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) with support of two mainstream political parties, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) to demand justice for the victims of Model Town incident.

At outset of the hearing, the bench expressed extreme displeasure over non-appearance of Punjab government’s Chief Secretary.

The chief secretary should have turned up at court to brief over the situation and agitation on Mall Road of the provincial capital, the bench remarked.

To which, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Punjab informed the bench that a ban has been imposed on protests and sit-ins in the adjacent areas of The Mall in Lahore.

“Has there been legislation on the matter,” the bench enquired.