University Town: Schools, hospitals given four months to relocate

PHC tells town administration to maintain drive against businesses in the residential area

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Wednesday ordered the town municipal administration to allow four months for educational institutions and hospitals in the University Town residential area to find alternative locations.

The division bench of Justices Waqar Ahmad Seth and Musarrat Hilali dismissed around ten petitions filed by beauty parlors and other commercial entities against notices served to them to wind up activities in the area.

The town administration had submitted a report through its counsel Sabahuddin Khattak, saying it served notices to various house owners whose properties were being used for commercial activities. He claimed that these notices were issued under Section 109 of the Local Government Act 2012 and 71 of LG Act 2013.

“In case of any serious threat to public health, safety or welfare or danger to life and property or where violation of any rule or by-law is being committed, the enforcement officer may suspend any work, seize the goods, seal the premises, demolish or remove work, issue direction for taking corrective measures within a specified time,” section 71 of the LG Act 2013 states.

Khattak said these notices were issued according to the law because commercial activities were barred in residential areas. He added locals were facing difficulties due to these establishments.

On the other hand, the petitioners contended their activities were being conducted on one side of University Town and not inconveniencing locals. They claimed to be regular taxpayers and said the notices issued to them were illegal.

After hearing the arguments, the court ordered the town administration to keep up with its drive against commercial activities in the area, but allow four months to educational institutions and hospitals to find alternative spots.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 12^th, 2015.