Rule of law: LDA chief’s reply sought on Doongi ground case

The construction is in violation of a court order, petitioner says.

LAHORE:

Justice Nasir Saeed Sheikh of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday sought a reply from Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Director General Ahad Khan Cheema by August 29 on a petition challenging the construction of a parking plaza at Doongi ground in Gulberg.

This is the second time Justice Saeed has sought a reply from the LDA. The judge had earlier sought a reply by Friday but it was not submitted.

His counsel requested more time for filing the reply.

Faran Rafique Khan, a resident of the Gulberg, has filed the petition challenging the construction of the parking plaza.

His counsel Muhammad Azhar Siddique said a full bench of the LHC had declared the construction of an IMAX theater at Doongi ground illegal on September 16, 2011.

He said the government had not complied with the court order.

He said a legal notice sent to the respondents on October 4, 2012 to stop the construction had only resulted in expediting the construction.

He said the construction was a violation of a court order. Siddique said residents of the area were given no prior notice about the construction of a parking plaza at the site. He said there had been no feasibility study of the project.

He said the government had also not secured a no objection certificate (NOC) from the Environment Department.

He stated that the requisite consents, permissions, sanctions, approval from all authorities had not been taken from the relevant authorities.

He said residents of the area and citizens of Lahore should be allowed to use the ground for recreational purposes.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 17^th, 2013.