LAHORE, April 27: Chief Justice Iftikhar Husain Chaudhry of the Lahore High Court on Thursday adjourned for May 10 the hearing of a writ petition against the lease of the Little Tollington Park, facing College of Home Economics on the Main Boulevard of Gulberg, to a multinational company for the construction of a restaurant.

The court sought a detailed report from the Lahore Development Authority regarding lease of the park and the legal position of the lease. The Parks and Horticulture Authority, however, submitted in its reply before the court that the land was still in the name of the Pakistan Post Office which was taken by the LDA for a public park.

The writ petition was filed by some residents of the area who submitted that the LDA and the PHA were not competent to allot the land of a public park for a commercial venture. They submitted that the residents, who had a right under the law of preemption, were also not given a hearing before the lease deed was concluded.

DPO SUMMONED: The Lahore High Court on Thursday summoned the Okara DPO on a bail application of a constable who was dismissed from service and was kept in detention by the Chuchak police.

Petitioner Lal Husain Khan who submitted that he was detained for seven days without an entry in the daily roster (roznamcha). When he started contacting his relatives for a legal help, the police implicated him in three case, one of which a car theft.

The court directed the SHO to submit a reply on May 8. The DSP (legal) has filed his reply. The court also heard the version of Okara additional sessions judge Masood Arshad and judicial magistrate Usman Awan. They were summoned to explain as to why had they failed to exercise the powers vested in them under the law.

The court directed the sub-inspector concerned to discharge the petitioner from the car theft case as the police failed in producing any incriminating material to prove his involvement in the offence.

The court also directed the DSP not to submit the case to a trial court.

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