LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Wednesday directed the traffic police to impose Rs5,000 fine for wrong car parking especially on greenbelts in the city besides a fine of Rs3,000 on those washing cars on ramps of houses.

Justice Shahid Karim observed that the fine for parking violations should be enforced and the amount collected should go into the city’s treasury.

The judge instructed the traffic police to also clamp the vehicles for wrong parking.

Hearing multiple petitions related to environmental pollution and smog, Justice Karim also took notice of the widespread development works launched by the caretaker government of Punjab.

The judge questioned the source of funding for the projects saying significant amounts of money were being spent without transparency.

Traffic police told to impose Rs5,000 fine for wrong parking

The judge halted the construction work on a road near Babu Sabu interchange by the Lahore Development Authority (LDA).

The judge asked why development projects were not halted during the smog season and emphasised that preparation for such projects should begin at least six months in advance, questioning the haste in their implementation.

He further asked why the development projects couldn’t be delayed for four months owing to the start of the smog season.

During the hearing, a court-formed judicial water commission submitted reports on behalf of various departments.

Justice Karim criticised the LDA’s initiation of projects without court’s approval and observed that these plans had been increasing smog in the city.

The judge said the court would issue an order preventing the LDA from starting any project without its approval.

The judge also expressed concerns over the increasing water scarcity in the country emphasising the critical nature of the water issue. He said Cholistan faced a challenging situation.

The judge directed the traffic police to make a plan for taking action against vehicles emitting black smoke.

Additionally, the judge recommended that water treatment plants be installed in homes and directed the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) to make rules in this regard.

The judge also directed the PHA and the environment protection department to strictly monitor the accumulation of water to control dengue instead of focusing on spray only. The judge ordered the PHA to grow more miyawaki/urban forests in the city.

The judge will resume further hearing on Thursday (today).

Ashiana: An accountability court on Thursday adjourned for further arguments acquittal applications of former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, former director general of Lahore Development Authority Ahad Khan Cheema and others in the Ashiana-i-Iqbal Housing Scam.

Judge Ali Zulqernain Awan also allowed Cheema to go abroad for two days on an official visit as a member of the caretaker cabinet.

However, the judge dismissed a request by suspect Kamran Kiyani, brother of former army chief Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani, to appoint a pleader to attend the proceedings on his behalf.

The judge observed that there was no need to appoint a pleader at this stage of the proceedings.

The judge adjourned further hearing till Oct 7.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2023