LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Friday restrained the Punjab Transport Authority and others from taking any coercive measure against a mobile network-based cab service operating in the city.

Justice Shahid Waheed passed the order on a petition filed by A-One Cab Service challenging a notification of the transport authority issued on Jan 27.

Muhammad Rafiq Shahzad, the chief executive officer of the service, contended through his counsel that they were providing taxi service to citizens according to international standards as 800 people used the service daily against economical rates.

The petitioner said he had asked the authorities concerned to regulate the cab service, however, the request was turned down on a plea that there was no specific law to regulate such service. He said the respondent authority instead of making required legislation issued a letter for legal action declaring his car service illegal.

Shahzad said the government’s action in the absence of any specific law was violation of the Constitution. He asked the court to declare the impugned order of the transport authority illegal. He also asked the court to restrain the authority and other departments from taking any adverse action against his cab service. The judge issued notices to the transport authority and chief traffic officer for Feb 20 and restrained them from taking coercive measure against the petitioner’s company.

Published in Dawn, February 4th, 2017