LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Tuesday directed the Model Town assistant commissioner to immediately remove the remaining hurdles erected outside Judicial Colony Phase-I, where the Punjab Assembly opposition leader Hamza Shahbaz resides.

Justice Ali Akbar Qureshi had ordered removal of barricades and an illegal structure erected outside the residence of Hamza, son of former chief minister Shahbaz Sharif, on a petition moved by Advocate Azhar Siddique.

However, the lawyer told the judge during the Tuesday’s hearing that the illegal structure had not been removed completely.

He said makeshift kiosks constructed on the road outside the residence of the opposition leader were yet to be demolished.

At this, Justice Qureshi ordered the Model Town assistant commissioner to remove all the remaining illegal structures forthwith and submit a compliance report on Wednesday (today).

Previously, the lawyer had told the court that Hamza Shahbaz got constructed an illegal wall and security rooms outside his residence without seeking approval by the 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 structures and barricades. He said the hurdles had been created in the name of security, using government land.

He said the barricades had been causing problems to citizens and residents of the area in particular.

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

Published in Dawn, September 26th, 2018