LAHORE:  The Lahore High Court on Wednesday issued a notice to the Punjab government and sought a reply on a petition against distribution of flour bags bearing the photo of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif under the Ramazan package.

Justice Shahid Karim heard the petition filed by citizen Munir Ahmad questioning Nawaz Sharif’s image on the flour bags.

Petitioner’s counsel Azhar Siddique stated that the public money cannot be used for personal publicity by the rulers.

He said the flour bags were being distributed among the underprivileged in an ‘objectionable’ manner against the dignity of the citizens.

He asked the court to restrain the government from using Nawaz Sharif’s image on flour bags and ensure no one’s self-respect hurts for the distribution of flour.

A petition also has been filed in the Lahore High Court against PML-N supreme leader MNA Nawaz Sharif for chairing administrative meetings of the Punjab government.

Mr Sharif, who is a three-time prime minister, presided over three back-to-back administrative meetings of the provincial government without holding any official position in either the provincial or federal government, Advocate Nadeem Sarwar said in his petition.

The lawyer argued that chairing the meetings by the respondent raised constitutional questions since he is officially only a MNA.

He said it is widely believed that Mr Sharif is calling the shots on all major decisions despite having no official role in the province. The photo of Mr. Sharif on the flour bags being distributed to the needy under the Ramazan relief package is proof of his involvement in the government affairs.

The petitioner asked the court to declare illegal the act of the respondent MNA chairing meetings and exercising executive authority and all directions issued by him.

He also urged the court to restrain the respondent from chairing any meeting or issuing directions to cabinet and state functionaries in future.

The hearing of the petition is fixed for Thursday (today) before Justice Muzamil Akhtar Shabbir.