A Special Division Bench of the Lahore High Court has rendered judgment in two cases raising significant questions concerning the interpretation and application of sections 2(b), 22(6) and 24 of the Punjab Rented Premises Act, 2009, in which Ch. Imran Hassan Ali, ASC, appeared as amicus curiae to assist the Court on the questions of law involved.
The proceedings arose against the backdrop of conflicting views expressed by different Single Benches of the Lahore High Court on the questions requiring determination. The matters had initially come before a Single Bench which, having noticed the divergence in judicial opinion and the importance of settling the controversy, referred the cases to the Chief Justice with a request that they be placed before a Division Bench for authoritative determination. The Chief Justice subsequently directed that the matters be heard by a Division Bench.
On 4 May 2026, the Special Division Bench appointed Ch. Imran Hassan Ali, ASC, as amicus curiae to assist the Court in resolving the legal questions involved.
The cases were heard at length during June 2026, with the proceedings extending over several days. Following extensive submissions, judgment was reserved on 30 June 2026 and was pronounced on 16 September 2026..
The judgment does not accept the interpretation advanced by Imran Hassan Ali in his submissions as amicus curiae. Interestingly, however, the Court ultimately arrived at the very result which Imran had invited the Court to reach. Although the Court ultimately adopted a different legal route from that proposed by the amicus curiae, the fact that the conclusion reached corresponds with the result advocated in his submissions gives the judgment particular legal interest. It also illustrates an important feature of appellate advocacy: the Court may arrive at the same destination while adopting a different route in its reasoning.
In this respect, readers’ attention is invited especially to paragraphs 29 and 38 of the judgment.
The judgment has been reported at 2026 LHC 5680. It can be accessed online at the Lahore High Court website by clicking here.
It is a great honour for Imran to have been asked to appear as amicus curiae in a matter involving conflicting precedents and questions requiring authoritative consideration by a Division Bench. It is a significant professional distinction.
All praise is for Allah alone!