Court upholds Murree Mall Road project

RAWALPINDI:

The Rawalpindi Bench of the Lahore High Court has dismissed all eight petitions filed by traders and residents against the Murree Mall Road Remodeling and Beautification Project.

Justice Tariq Mahmood Bajwa upheld the project and declared the acquisition of 20 kanals of land for the initiative lawful. The court also allowed the government to continue the project.

The verdict, which had been reserved after hearing arguments last week, stated that the government has the authority under the Constitution and law to acquire land for public projects.

It further observed that beautification of Murree, an international tourist destination, falls within the powers of the Punjab government.

Petitioners had argued that ancestral land could only be acquired for public welfare and that beautification did not qualify as such.