A hotel owner has approached the Rawalpindi bench of the Lahore High Court against the closure of hotels and other businesses during protests.
Advocate Nazakat Hussain Abbasi, representing hotel owner Ahtisham ul Haq, challenged the verbal directions issued by the district administration and police to shut down hotels.
According to the petition, the police and administration have closed the hotels more than 20 times over the past year. The petitioner said the latest order directed the hotel to remain closed for an indefinite period.
He argued that businesses are already facing difficulties due to the prevailing economic conditions and that repeated closures are adding to their financial problems.
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The petitioner said the frequent shutdowns had made it difficult to pay utility bills, employees’ salaries and rent.
The Chief Secretary Punjab, Home Secretary, Deputy Commissioner and CPO Rawalpindi have been named as respondents in the case.
SP Rawal and SHO Pir Wadhai have also been included as parties to the petition.
The petitioner has asked the court to stop the administration and police from ordering further closures and to direct the authorities to reopen the hotels immediately.