Summary LHC has ordered stopping work within the radius of 200 feet around the historical sites
LAHORE: (Dunya News) – Lahore High Court (LHC) has on Thursday ordered stopping work on Orange Line Metro Train project within the radius of 200 feet around the historical sites, reported Dunya News.
According to details, 2-member bench of LHC, headed by Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh, started hearing of civil society’s petition against Orange Line project. Punjab government’s lawyers Khawaja Haris Advocate maintained that according to the feasibility report prepared in 2014, no cultural or historical building including Shalimar Gardens and Chauburji will be damaged. He said that the Archaeology department and NESPAK have no reservations regarding the project. He added that a meeting headed by Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Chief Engineer and Chief Secretary issued the No Objection Certificates (NOC) for the project.
Civil Society’s lawyer Azhar Siddique Advocate maintained on this occasion that the writing of the NOC seemed as if they were issued on government’s pressure. He said that there is no record of the reasons why NOCs were issued.
After hearing the initial arguments from both the sides, the court ordered stopping the work on Orange Line project within the radius of 200 feet of the historical sites. The historical sites include Shalimar Gardens, Gulabi Garden Gateway, Budu Ka Aawa, Chauburji, Zeb-un-Nisa’s tomb, Lakshmi Building, GPO, Aiwan-e-Auqaaf, Supreme Court Registry Building, Saint Andrew Church, Mauj-e-Darya Shrine and mosque.
Further hearing of the case has been postponed till February 4.
