LAHORE: Hearing petitions regarding smog and pollution, the Lahore High Court on Thursday expressed displeasure over the Punjab government for transferring the director general of Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA).

Justice Shahid Karim observed that the government was directed not to transfer the PHA DG without a permission of the court. The judge said the PHA had a key role in controlling environmental pollution and smog.

He noted that on one hand the provincial government itself was not doing any good and on the other it transferred the head of the PHA.

The judge sought an explanation from the government on the transfer of the officer in addition to a report on tree plantation on the road sides in the city. The judge would resume further hearing on Friday (today).

On a previous hearing, the judge had directed PHA director general Umar Jahangir to impose a fine of Rs200 on visitors if found littering in Bagh-i-Jinnah (Lawrence Garden).

Justice Karim had observed that the world including Pakistan was facing a challenge of climate change and the PHA had a key role to play in it.

The judge had taken notice of littering in public parks especially in Bagh-i-Jinnah and directed the authority to impose a fine Rs200 on the violators.

BAIL CONFIRMED: An anti-terrorism court on Thursday confirmed the interim pre-arrest bail of three leaders of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in a 2020 case of attacking a police team outside the office of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) when Maryam Nawaz, the party’s vice president, arrived to appear in an inquiry.

MPA Yasin Sohal, Ahsan Raza Khan and Hassan Riaz, who were on interim bail, appeared before the court.

Their counsel completed his arguments urging the court to confirm the interim bail as there was no need for arrests in the case.

The court confirmed the bails of the petitioners subject to surety bonds of Rs100,000 each.

Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2022