LHC halts ‘amnesty’ for housing societies

LDA’s legal adviser contends no benefit being given to developers

LAHORE:

Lahore High Court’s (LHC) Chief Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan has ordered a halt to any progress on an ‘amnesty scheme’ proposed to give a one-time benefit to illegal or unapproved housing societies for getting them registered after paying fines and bringing them into the net of aquifer charges.

The judge ordered a status quo for the societies which fall under the jurisdiction of the Lahore Development Authority (LDA). He also summoned LDA director general and vice chairman to explain the amnesty scheme.

In previous proceedings, the LDA had intimated the court that there were 241 illegal housing societies in Lahore that had been found involved in violation of greenbelt rules.

CJ Khan also directed the LDA to stop any demolition in the societies and their owners to refrain from construction work.

The court was hearing a petition against construction of housing schemes on green areas and belts.

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The chief justice raised questions about moves ostensibly launched to give benefit to ‘big names’. “What measures are being taken against those who had escaped abroad,” he asked.

LDA’s senior legal adviser Sahabzada Muzafar Ali told the court that no benefit was being given to any developers through the amnesty scheme. The benefits are only confined to the affected residents of the societies, he contended.

When CJ Khan asked about the developers who had escaped after earning billions and were still evading legal action, the LDA’s legal adviser reiterated that the amnesty scheme was not beneficial for the developers.

Responding to a query regarding measures taken to protect green areas, the LDA adviser said the societies succeeded in getting stay orders owing to which the authorities had to stop further action against them. “This is why the matters relating to action against them are delayed.”

The judge observed that he had examined the record wherein no action had been taken against societies not nominated in cases.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 29^th, 2021.