Walled City: Illegal construction goes on at ‘sealed’ site

Several buildings, including an imambargah, have been damaged.

LAHORE: Work on a commercial plaza has continued at the Walled City even thought the site has been sealed thrice by the authorities, The Express Tribune has learnt.

Several buildings, including an imambargah, have sustained damage as a result of the digging for its foundation at Kashmiri Gate.

When the administration of the imambargah complained about the construction, the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) officials seal off the site.

He said the site was last sealed by the authorities on Friday.

Imambargah Qasar-i -Abbas caretaker Asif Ali Mirza said on Saturday night, the contractor once again broke the seals and resumed work on the second storey of the plaza. He said he had been threatened with “dire consequences” by Mateen Khan, owner of the plaza, in front of some witnesses.

He said the imambargah’s administration had first complained to District Coordination Officer (DCO) Ahmed Javed Qazi who referred the complaint to the WCLA director general.

He said on behalf of the DG, WCLA Land and Estate Director Safdar Abbas seal the construction site thrice.

Abbas said he had lodged four FIRs against Siddique, the contractor. He said if he was found violating the orders again, the WCLA would demolish the plaza.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 16^th, 2013