The Lahore High Court has dismissed a petition challenging the off-loading of a passenger at Islamabad International Airport, ruling that the matter fell outside its territorial jurisdiction under Article 199 of the Constitution.
Justice Munawar Iqbal Dogal issued the eight-page judgment on a petition filed by Muhammad Owais, who was off-loaded at Islamabad airport on July 17, 2026.
The court observed that all actions relating to the off-loading took place in Islamabad and that the petitioner’s residence in Punjab did not, by itself, establish the territorial jurisdiction of the Lahore High Court.
The judgment further held that the mere fact that a federal institution was involved did not give every high court jurisdiction to hear the matter.
The court noted that officials of the Federal Investigation Agency at Lahore airport had no role in the off-loading and had been made parties to the case without sufficient basis.
The LHC clarified that the petition was not being dismissed on the merits of the case.
The court allowed Muhammad Owais to approach the Islamabad High Court for appropriate legal remedy.
Assistant Advocate General Punjab Muhammad Usman Khan was also present when the verdict was announced.
The judgment was described as a judicial precedent on the question of territorial jurisdiction under Article 199.