The Lahore High Court (LHC) has ordered the district administration in the provincial capital to issue a notification allowing theaters to remain open from 9:30 pm to 11:30 pm, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Additionally, the court on Tuesday also ordered to suspend the show-cause notice sent to the theater owners for violating the earlier deadline of 10:00 pm.
Justice Shahid Karim of the LHC remarked that all measures are being taken to protect citizens from smog. He also asked citizens to change their lifestyle to control smog.
Justice Shahid Karim heard the petition of Punjab Artist Producers Theaters Association.
“The court has not issued any such order that the theaters should be closed at 10 pm,” Justice Shahid Karim told the petitioner’s lawyer. “The court had ordered to close only commercial areas.”
The lawyer of the petitioner told the LHC that the Punjab government also started closing the theatres.
Justice Shahid Karim remarked that the maximum time for theatres to open is 11 pm.
The petitioner’s lawyer then argued that theaters are closed for 22 hours and only open for two hours only for entertainment.
He requested the court to extend the theaters opening hours from 11 am to 1 pm.
The LHC adjourned hearing of the case till December 30th.
Reporter Malik Ashraf