Eateries challenge indefinite closures

Justice Tariq Mehmood Bajwa of the Rawalpindi Bench of the High Court has accepted a petition filed by hotel owners against the indefinite closure of all hotels, restaurants, motels, inns and guest houses across Rawalpindi city and the Cantonment for hearing. The order to close hotels was issued by the district administration as part of security measures being taken during the upcoming long marches organised by Jamaat-e-Islami and Tehreek-e-Insaf. Notices have been issued to the Divisional Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, and City Police Officer (CPO) of Rawalpindi, seeking their responses and comments, while the hearing of the petition has been adjourned indefinitely. The petition was filed by a central leader of the Markazi Anjuman-e-Tajiran (Central Traders' Association), Ehtesham-ul-Haq. Respondents named in the petition include the Chief Secretary of Punjab, the Home Secretary, the Deputy Commissioner, the City Police Officer (CPO), Rawal SP and the Pirwadhai Police Station SHO. The petition argues that the Islamabad High Court has already issued orders to keep roads and businesses open during the protests. It notes that the Rawalpindi administration has forced the closure of hotels, motels and rest houses twenty times so far this year and has now ordered their indefinite closure merely on the basis of verbal command. It adds that with business already suffering, the closure of hotels will render thousands of employees jobless and will completely ruin businesses. Ehtesham-ul-Haq said that since hotel owners have no political affiliation, they should not have to bear the consequences of the marches. The petitioners requested that this order be declared null, void and illegal, and any move to close hotels in the future be banned.