Public Projects: Verdict reserved on acquisition pleas

LAHORE: A full bench of Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday reserved its verdict on two petitions challenging the emergency procedure adopted by the government to acquire land for development projects. The bench, headed by Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, remarked that the court will interpret the emergency procedure in its order. Muhammad Yaqub of Gujrat had challenged acquisition of land for Nawaz Sharif Medical College and Mehboob Ali of Narowal for construction of a women’s college. The petitioners’ lawyer argued that the government had issued two notifications to acquire land for the development projects. He said that the government had started the procedure to acquire land under Section 17(4). “No justification has been given for the acquisition,” he said. Assistant Advocate General Anwar Hussain said that the projects were of public interest. “Had the normal procedure been adopted, the projects would have been delayed,” he said. After hearing the arguments, the bench reserved its judgment.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 3^rd, 2016.