Orange Line: Commission appointed to check stay order implementation

LAHORE:

A Lahore High Court division bench on Monday appointed a local commission to check the implementation of a stay order against construction work for the Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT) project within 200 feet of 11 heritage sites along the route of the train.

The bench also extended the duration of the stay order against the construction till the next hearing on March 3.

Meanwhile, the bench adjourned further hearing of a contempt of court petition against the provincial government for proceeding with construction work in violation of the stay order on request of the attorney general of Pakistan (AGP). The AGP had sought time to submit in court some documents related to the project.

On the federal government’s petition against the stay order, the AGP told the bench that funds for the OLMT project had been secured from a foreign government through the federal government. Therefore, he said, the federal government was directly involved in the project. He said the delay in construction would increase the cost of the project.

Earlier, the bench had suspended the No-Objection Certificates (NoCs) issued for the project and stopped authorities concerned from proceeding with construction work within 200 feet of the 11 sites.

The sites were the Supreme Court Lahore registry branch, the Shalimar Gardens, Chauburji, Saint Andrew’s Church, the General Post Office (GPO) building, Mehrunisa’s tomb, Budhu ka Awa, Mauj Daria shrine, Shah Cheragh Building, Awan-i-Auqaf and Dai Anga’s Tomb.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 23^rd, 2016.