LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Tuesday ordered police and the district government to remove all kinds of hurdles and barricades from outside Judicial Colony (Phase-I) residence of opposition leader in Punjab Assembly Hamza Shahbaz.

Justice Ali Akbar Qureshi passed the order hearing a public interest petition filed by a citizen, Munir Ahmad.

Petitioner through his counsel Azhar Siddique had contended that Mr Shahbaz constructed wall and security room illegally outside his residence without approval by Lahore Development Authority (LDA).

He said one side of the two-lane road outside the respondent’s house had been blocked for traffic by erecting illegal structure and barricades. He said the hurdles had been created in the name of security by using government land. He said the barricades erected in the name of security had been causing problems to citizens in general and residents of the area in particular.

The counsel pointed out that the Supreme Court had ordered the police and the government to remove all kind of blockades/hurdles in the city and open roads for public. However, he said, the road outside the residence of Hamza Shahbaz had not been opened for public, which amounted to contempt of court.

He asked the court to order the government authorities to enforce fundamental rights of citizens and remove barricades and illegal construction outside the house of opposition leader.

Justice Qureshi directed the government and police to remove the hurdles in the light of the SC verdict and directed a law officer to submit a compliance report on Wednesday.

CREMATION PLACES: Hearing another petition about unavailability of cremation places for Hindu community in Lahore, Justice Qureshi on Tuesday summoned officials of the local government and LDA.

Advocate Ishtiaq Chaudhry had filed the petition saying the Hindu community living in the city had been facing problems as it had no dedicated place for cremation to perform last rituals of their members in case of death.

The lawyer pointed out that the LDA rules provided for reserved place for cremation near residential areas. He urged the court to issue a direction to the authorities concerned to ensure availability of crematorium for Hindu community in the city. The judge would resume hearing on Wednesday (today).

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2018