Development approval: Petition against ‘defamation’ of Bahria Town disposed of

LDA DG given six weeks to resolve question of legality of three sectors.

LAHORE:

The Lahore High Court on Monday directed the Lahore Development Authority’s (LDA) director general to resolve within six weeks questions concerning the legality of three sectors of Bahria Town and an alleged defamation campaign against the housing society.

The petition was moved by Amjad Nawaz Bhatti and others who own plots in Sectors D and E of Bahria Town, also known as Orchard Phase-II, through Advocate Dr A Basit.

The petitioners’ counsel said that the LDA and others were, through television and press advertisements, asking people not to buy plots in Sectors D, E and F of Bahria Town as they had been developed without approval.

He argued that this constituted a “massive defamation campaign” against Bahria Town as the housing scheme did not require the LDA’s approval.

The LDA’s announcements had resulted in a fall in plot prices, thus hurting his clients. He alleged that the Punjab government was hostile to Bahria Town and had hatched a “criminal conspiracy” to damage the housing society. The petitioners’ counsel asked the court to direct the LDA to terminate its campaign and to stop claiming authority over the sectors.

A law officer representing the LDA told the court that the authority was simply following its rules in informing the public to avoid purchasing plots in illegal, unapproved housing schemes.

Justice Ijazul Ahsan heard arguments from both sides and referred the petition to the LDA director general.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 2^nd, 2013.