Punjab govt ordered to enforce Urdu as official language in province

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Monday directed the Punjab government to ensure implementation of a 2015 verdict of the Supreme Court to enforce Urdu as official language.

Disposing of several petitions, Justice Muhammad Raza Qureshi observed that the high court was supposed to implement the judgments of the Supreme Court.

The judge directed the government to submit a compliance report before the court through its deputy registrar (judicial) within a period of 30 days.

Muhammad Irfan and others had filed the petitions pleading that the government failed to enforce Urdu as official language as envisaged in the apex court’s judgment despite the lapse of eight years.

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They said Article 251 of the Constitution required the government to make arrangements to use Urdu as official language and for other purposes. They pointed out that the apex court had also ordered the government to implement Urdu as official language within 90 days.

The petitioners asked the court to take action against the responsible authorities on contempt charges and also order the government to implement the verdict of the Supreme Court without further delay.

In September 2015, the Supreme Court had directed the federal and provincial governments to adopt Urdu as official language in the country.