PR directed to run three trains for devotees

LAHORE - Chief Justice Lahore High Court Khawaja Muhammad Sharif on Friday strictly ordered Chairman and General Manager Pakistan Railways to provide three trains to Jhoolay Lal Council for taking hundreds of devotees on Urs of Hazrat Baba Lal Shahbaz Qalandar in Sehwan Sharif. In case of non-compliance of order of the court, contempt of court proceedings will be initiated against the respondents including Chairman Pakistan Railways and General Manager Railways, the CJ warned. The CJ passed the order on two petitions of Jhoolay Lal Council President Sh Tariq Abbass who submitted Zaireen wanted to participate in three days Urs of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar starting from July 31 but Pakistan Railways refused booking of three (3) trains for the devotees council. The CJ noted in his order, as the petitioners (the devotees) have to travel in order to participate in Urs of Shahbaz Qalandar, the respondents are directed to provide all facilities to them without fail so that they may make a pilgrimage to holy Shrine of Sehwan Sharif. The CJ passed this order in an angry mood because Pakistan Railways challenged powers and jurisdiction of the honourable court by submitting a disgraceful written reply on Friday on the devotees petitions. Petitioner counsel Sami Durrani Advocate submitted that his client wanted to pay whole of the fare amount and had been paying the same regularly in order to visit tomb of Hazrat Shahbaz Qalandar and requested that one train be provided to the petitioner for devotees travel. Tablish Umer Javed advocate, counsel in second petition submitted that his client wanted two railway coaches to visit and participate in Urs of great Sufi Saint. Presenting a written reply, counsel for Pakistan Railways said that there were no locomotives and coaches with Railways due to reasons that some trains had been closed. The reply also added the court (LHC) had no jurisdiction to ask Pakistan Railways to book trains for the devotees as it was related to internal affairs of Railways. Upon this, the CJ remarked that this court had unlimited jurisdiction and it could do anything in order to reach a just decision and to provide justice to the people of Pakistan. I am of the view that the respondents and counsel for Railways do not know this court has been restored by grace of Almighty Allah and Constitution of Islamic republic of Pakistan, the CJ said. Further, the CJ warned Chairman and General Manager Railways not to file such reply in the court next time when any petition comes against them.

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