LHC imposes Rs100,000 fine over Nawaz Sharif images plea

During the proceedings, the petitioner sought action against senior Punjab government officials, arguing that Nawaz Sharif’s images were being displayed

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has imposed a cost of Rs100,000 on petitioner Ashba Kamran over a petition challenging the display of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s images on Punjab government projects, with Chief Justice Alia Neelum questioning the legal basis and maintainability of the plea.

During the proceedings, the petitioner sought action against senior Punjab government officials, arguing that Nawaz Sharif’s images were being displayed on government schemes despite him not holding a public office that, according to the petitioner, would justify the use of public resources for such projection.

The petition also alleged that government funds were being utilised for the display and invoked a Supreme Court ruling concerning the use of public money for personal publicity. The petitioner sought contempt proceedings against the Chief Minister Punjab, Chief Secretary and Speaker of the Punjab Assembly for allegedly failing to comply with the apex court’s directions.

During the hearing, Chief Justice Alia Neelum questioned the petitioner’s counsel about the legal foundation of the contempt plea and asked where the original order, whose alleged violation formed the basis of the petition, was on the record.

The court also questioned the manner in which the petition had been prepared, particularly the absence of what the bench considered necessary material and supporting documents. The proceedings focused on whether the matter had been brought before the court through the appropriate legal forum and with sufficient grounds for invoking its jurisdiction.

According to the petitioner’s account of the proceedings, the Chief Justice remarked that all relevant aspects must be considered before filing a case and questioned the filing of petitions without adequate legal preparation.

The court subsequently imposed a cost of Rs100,000 on the petitioner. The Chief Justice was quoted as telling the counsel, “First deposit the one lakh fine, then I will hear your case.”

The petition had sought judicial intervention against what the petitioner described as the use of government-funded development projects for political projection. The plea also referred to an earlier petition allegedly filed by Kamran in February 2025 concerning the audit and recovery of funds purportedly spent on political branding.

The latest proceedings come amid continuing judicial scrutiny of petitions involving public expenditure, political publicity and the limits of public interest litigation. In previous cases, courts have also stressed the need for petitioners to establish proper legal grounds before invoking constitutional or contempt jurisdiction.

The development has drawn attention among members of the legal community, with lawyers emphasising the importance of protecting judicial time for matters supported by adequate legal grounds and documentary evidence.

The petition was dismissed with a cost of Rs100,000, according to the details provided regarding the proceedings.