LAHORE: A Lahore High Court full bench on Thursday gave time to the Punjab government to file a reply to petitions against construction of a signal-free corridor from Qartaba Chowk, Jail Road, to Liberty Chowk, Main Boulevard, Gulberg.

As the bench resumed hearing, Advocate General Naveed Rasool Mirza appeared before it and sought time to come up with government’s point of view in the case. The bench allowed the request and adjourned hearing till March 30.

The bench comprised Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Muhammad Yawar Ali and Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh.

The public interest litigation petitions were filed by Fahad Malik, Ms Imrana Tiwana and the Lahore Conservation Society.

In this case, Justice Shah as a single bench stayed the project on March 6 and directed the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) to immediately remove all machinery/cranes from the construction site.

Later, the Lahore High Court chief justice formed a full bench to further hear the matter.

The petitioners mainly questioned many violations of rules and the law by the government before the launch of the signal-free corridor project.

US BOUNTY: The Lahore High Court on Thursday asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to tell whether it could defend Pakistani citizens in foreign countries.

Justice Shams Mahmood Mirza was hearing a petition challenging a United States act of fixing of bounty on Jamatud Dawa chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed and his deputy Hafiz Abdur Rehman Makki. The judge adjourned hearing till April 13.

During 2012, US Under Secretary of State Wendy Sherman revealed in New Delhi that $10 million and $3 million had been announced on the heads of Hafiz Saeed and Hafiz Makki respectively.

The petitioners through their counsel said the announcement of bounty was liable to be withdrawn and they needed to be protected being citizens of Pakistan.

They asked the court to direct the government to protect them and make arrangements for their security.

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play

Opinion

Editorial

Punishing evaders
02 May, 2024

Punishing evaders

THE FBR’s decision to block mobile phone connections of more than half a million individuals who did not file...
Engaging Riyadh
Updated 02 May, 2024

Engaging Riyadh

It must be stressed that to pull in maximum foreign investment, a climate of domestic political stability is crucial.
Freedom to question
02 May, 2024

Freedom to question

WITH frequently suspended freedoms, increasing violence and few to speak out for the oppressed, it is unlikely that...
Wheat protests
Updated 01 May, 2024

Wheat protests

The government should withdraw from the wheat trade gradually, replacing the existing market support mechanism with an effective new one over the next several years.
Polio drive
01 May, 2024

Polio drive

THE year’s fourth polio drive has kicked off across Pakistan, with the aim to immunise more than 24m children ...
Workers’ struggle
Updated 01 May, 2024

Workers’ struggle

Yet the struggle to secure a living wage — and decent working conditions — for the toiling masses must continue.