ISLAMABAD, Sept 13: The Institute of Architects Pakistan (IAP) has appealed to President Gen Pervez Musharraf to help preserve the historic 117-year-old Lahore High Court (LHC) building, part of which has already been demolished on the orders of the chief justice of the LHC.

Speaking at a press conference here, the chairman of the IAP, Hammad Hussain, said the decision of the chief justice and the action under which part of the west wing of the building was demolished had come as a big shock.

"The demolition work has been halted for two days (till September 14) on the request of the LHC Bar Association and the IAP. But we fear that the demolition will resume soon," Mr Hussain said.

He said the President Musharraf himself had stressed the need for preserving national heritage while inaugurating the restored 'Shahdin Manzil' in Lahore. The LHC building is also included on the national heritage list and is protected under law.

He said clause 3,5,7 and 11 of the Punjab Special Premises (Preservation) Ordinance stated, "No alteration or renovation, demolition or re- erection or such a premises may be made. "No development plan or scheme or new construction on or within a distance of 200 feet of a special premises shall be undertaken or executed."