LHC to take up plea on removal of barriers on Jan 31

Petitioner says security arrangements at Sharif family residences a headache for residents

LAHORE: A full bench of the Lahore High Court will take up a petition on January 31 pertaining to removal of blockades from roads and streets in the city, including outside the Jati Umra residence of the ruling Sharif family, their family home in Model Town and office of the inspector general of police.

The petitioner Abdullah Malik, chief of a civil society organisation, filed a petition through Advocate Azhar Siddique contending that public money had been extravagantly misused on security of Jati Umra and on members of the Sharif family as the blockades of roads have become a headache for residents.



He implored a security wall was constructed around the home of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif with an initial cost of about Rs250 million, adding that over Rs75 million had been wasted on the security of the Sharif family during the last few years.

He also implored that cost of security equipment fixed at Jati Umra was around Rs806 million while about Rs12.5 million had been wasted on purchasing jammers.

He further stated that there was a security staff of 2,750 personnel deployed for security at Jati Umra and Rs40 million had been spent on security arrangements.

The petitioner further contended that roads had also been blocked outside Jati Umra and Model Town residences of the Sharif family by erecting barricades that caused problems for citizens. He submitted it was violation of fundamental rights of citizens by confining their movement.

The petitioner further stated that exercise of power for the purpose of blocking roads outside Jati Umra, Model Town and other camp offices of the chief minister was in violation of Section 24-A of the General Clauses Act and judgments passed by superior courts.



He prayed the court to order the chief secretary to remove illegal barriers and blockades installed in front of former prime minister’s house in Jati Umra, Raiwind, IGP office, Punjab chief minister’s Model Town camp office and his other camp offices in Punjab.

Justice Shahid Karim had initially taken up the petition and referred the matter to a full bench already seized with a case against protests on the Mall Road, a prohibited area.

Justice Aminuddin Khan will head the full bench and Justice Shahid Jamil Khan and Justice Shahid Karim will be its members. The bench is set to resume hearing on Jan 31.