LAHORE - In view of the sensitivity of the issue Chief Justice Lahore High Court Khawaja Muhammad Sharif on Monday constituted a special division bench to hear a petition challenging the Pakistan Railways decision to close six trains. The bench comprising of Chief Justice and Justice Ijazul Ahsan will resume in detail hearing on the case on September 1. The court passed the order on a petition filed by Vice President Railway workers Union Rana Shaukat Ali who challenged the decision of Pakistan Railways to suspend operations of six trains including Mehran Express, Sialkot Express, Sakhi Abbas Passenger, Taiz Rao, Chiltan Express and Shalimar Express. The CJ observed that trains closure was a serious matter and a division bench should hear it before passing any judgment on the legal question linked to closure of trains and the travel facilities in the country. During proceedings, petitioner counsel submitted that it was duty of Pakistan Railways to provide travel facilities to masses but it had snatched the same from people who were already suffering due to lack of transport facilities. He submitted that as a result of this decision many employees would also become jobless. He prayed the court to set aside the decision of PR. On last hearing, the Chief Justice had almost reserved his judgment on closure of trains but he asked for further arguments seeing that some points needed more arguments before judgment. Pakistan Railways claimed the trains were not financially viable and Railways was suffering perpetual losses due to operation of the trains. The Pakistan Railways decided to suspend operation of certain passenger trains on account of heavy financial losses because the running of the trains was not commercially viable for railways, PR said in its reply. Perpetual loss was being suffered by Pakistan Railways and it could not sustain further losses on the passenger trains, the PR said showing unwillingness to restore the six trains. The report added that there were about 212 passenger trains running on various routes across the country and the exiting trains were sufficient to cater to the travelling needs of the public. Sarfraz Cheema, Counsel for Pakistan Railways highlighted the loss incurred due to unviable passenger trains. Counsel for the petitioner Istiaq Ahmed Chaudhry sought time to prepare his briefing and arguments against the PRs reply. The CJ noted petitioners counsel might file his rejoinder if he wanted on the reply. Fresh proceedings will resume on 1st September on the case.