MULTAN: The Lahore High Court, Multan Bench, has directed the Multan Cantonment Board through its chief executive officer (CEO) to submit a report over the alleged violation of the Supreme Court’s direction to uproot illegal advertising material within its jurisdiction.

In her petition, Kiran Abid, of Lahore, stated that an advertisement was given by the board in April 2018 for auctioning the collection rights of hoardings, LED, pole-sign and micro-media board, sites for advertisement, which was challenged by the petitioner in the LHC and the powers of giving advertisement and holding an auction of the petitioner was suspended by the court on April 18, 2018.

She stated that while violating the court order, the respondent finalised the auction on Oct 10, 2018.

She stated that in the meanwhile the Supreme Court in a suo motu case declared that billboards or hoardings of any nature (including, electronic billboard/hoardings) cannot be allowed to be installed on any public property which also was upheld by the Supreme Court in a review petition on Dec 14, 2018.

She claimed the respondent again issued an advertisement for the auction, which was scheduled for Feb 27-28, 2020, which again was challenged by her.

She alleged the board administration awarded a contract to one of its blue-eyed persons which are still continued despite the fact the SC directed to the authorities all over Pakistan to immediately remove all the billboards/hoardings installed within their jurisdiction while in the intervening period, cantonment boards and all the authorities throughout Pakistan were restrained from erecting signboards, billboards or advertisements in their jurisdiction.

She stated on Sept 13, 2021, she witnessed the relocation/installation/erection of an electronic signboard from one place to another at SP Chowk while pole signs/SMDs are still installed on Aziz Bhatti Road from Imperial Chowk to Mall Plaza.

She requested the court that all advertising material installed within the jurisdiction of the board be removed as being illegal, unlawful and in violation of the court orders.

While issuing a notice to the respondent board, Justice Ahmad Nadeem Arshad sought para wise comments within 15 days.

Published in Dawn, October 12th, 2021