LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Friday allowed flying activities at Walton Airport initially for eight weeks.

Justice Ali Baqar Najafi was hearing several petitions against taking over of the airport by the Punjab government and hindrance in the lawful business of Lahore Flying Club.

The judge asked a counsel for the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) how long it would take to set up an alternate venue for Walton Airport.

The counsel said it would take eight to 22 weeks for the shifting of the infrastructure to a new place.

At this, Justice Najafi directed the CAA that all flying activities be restored for a minimum period of eight weeks, after which the court would see if the alternative provided was suitable or not.

The judge will resume further hearing on Sept 9.

The petitions were filed by Lahore Flying Club, flight instructors at Walton Airport and others.

The petitioners contended that the government promulgated the Lahore Central Business District Development Authority Ordinance 2021 on Feb 4 in violation of the due process of law to close down abruptly the operations of the flying club.

They said the club’s predecessor, Northern India Flying Club, was duly incorporated in 1932 under the Indian Companies Act 1913 (current regime is Companies Ordinance 1984). However, after the Partition, the name of Northern India Flying Club was changed to the Lahore Flying Club in 1954.

The petitioners submitted that Walton Airport was also an ideal location for air ambulances in case of any emergency or disaster in the province and within a few minutes travel to major hospitals in Lahore and any unwanted and disastrous situation can be mitigated through the use of above mentioned land.

They asked the court to set aside the impugned ordinance for taking over the airport being illegal. However, during the pendency of the petitions, the ordinance was converted into an Act after an approval by the provincial assembly.

Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2021