Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice, Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan has given directive to  Punjab government to make the burial services in cemeteries free of cost. 

It has been reported that an eight-page written verdict has been issued by LHC’s Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan imposing a ban on the collection of money for burial in cemeteries across Punjab.   

Punjab government should amend the law regarding burial of the deceased, states the verdict. It is to note that the verdict has been supported by hadiths and international laws as well. 

While shedding light on the verdict, Chief Justice Qasim Khan elaborated that citizens pay taxes to the government all their lives. It is inappropriate if even at the time of death, they are charged money in the name of graves, he added. 

“It is the responsibility of the government to bear the cost of burial of the citizens. The law should be amended so that the administration can provide free transport to the cemetery for burial,” he stated. 

Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has also been given a directive to allocate land for graveyards in private housing societies. 

The verdict concluded with a directive given to the government administration to take necessary steps to maintain the cemeteries and plant trees.