LHC questions delay in completion of project

Mian Rasheed appeared before the court and said public money was being wasted on the Orange Line metro Train Project.

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Wednesday asked the Punjab chief secretary to define the time period required to complete the Bab-e-Pakistan (Gateway to Pakistan) project.

The court issued the order on a petition of Punjab opposition leader Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed, who sought completion of the project without disturbing its existing structure. The court adjourned the hearing till October 3.

Sheraz Zaka, appearing on behalf of the petitioner, submitted that construction of the Bab-e-Pakistan memorial had been delayed for the past 28 years. He said now the master plan has been altered and the entire essence of the project has been lost. The counsel stated these developments were in violation of the Antiquities Act.

He added that for the past eight months, the Punjab government did not bother to file a reply on the petition.

Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed appeared before the court and said public money was being wasted on the Orange Line metro Train Project. “The already constructed monument is being destroyed by the Punjab government,” he said, adding further calls for expressions of interest in the project had been issued.



Appearing on behalf of the Punjab Finance Department, a counsel said the government had withdrawn an impugned expression of interest. The memorial would be completed soon and no new consultant would be hired, he said, adding the already constructed monument would not be destroyed.

Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh, heading the division bench, expressed his satisfaction over the reply, but observed the court needed an assurance from the Punjab government that the monument would not be destroyed.  The court sought a reply from the CS to determine how much time it would take to complete the project as 26 years had passed.

The judge observed that since it is a public interest litigation the petition is justified as the project had not been completed despite the lapse of 28 years and Rs1.45 billon being spent on it.

The court expressed was keen to inquire why a project of such public importance had not been completed as yet. The bench directed the chief secretary to submit a reply and appreciated the personal appearance of the petitioner in court.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 1^st, 2017.