Hafizabad’s inclusion in new division challenged

LHC seeks replies from Punjab government

LAHORE:

Lahore High Court (LHC) Justice Rasaal Hasan Syed sought replies from the provincial government on a petition challenging the notification of Gujrat as the 10th division of the province.

The petitioner’s counsel argued that Gujrat had been given the status of a division pursuant to the provisions of the Punjab Land Revenue Act 1967 and that while doing so Hafizabad had been made a district of the new division.

He contended that Hafizabad was a district of Gujranwala division earlier. Gujranwala as division headquarter as per existing infrastructure of roads, etc was logical and convenient for the residents and business and professional communities of Hafizabad.

The counsel alleged that the inclusion of Hafizabad as a district of Gujrat division had been made for ulterior purposes and without talking the input of any of the stakeholders who have been protesting against the step and would face considerable hardship.

He contended that the notification had been issued without following the prescribed procedure and in an arbitrary manner and as such was not legally tenable. He prayed the court to set aside the notification to avoid loss and problems the residents were facing.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 28^th, 2022.