CHAKWAL: While hearing a contempt petition against alleged tree chopping and violation of status quo on Monday, the Lahore High Court Rawalpindi Bench has directed counsel for the petitioner and an official of the Chakwal administration to jointly inspect the historic Civil Club site to ascertain whether the construction work is under way on the premises of the club or out of its premises, and submit a report.
The contempt petition was filed by Ch Asad Masood Khan, president of Civil Club, through advocates Hassan Raza Pasha and Wajiha Hassan against Deputy Commissioner Sarah Hayat, ADC Bilal Bin Abdul Hafeez and Chief Officer MC Fayyaz Haleem Hashmi.
The petitioner alleged that despite status quo ordered on April 28, 2026, the Municipal Committee on Sept 30 advertised a tender for installation of cabin cafes for a food court worth Rs16.4 million and on Oct 13-14 chopped down 25 trees inside the club and started construction of washrooms in its under-construction gymnasium.
Meanwhile, the district administration through its counsel Qazi Afzaal Ahmed, denied willful disobedience and sought dismissal of the petition.
It said the tenders pertained to separate locations. “The tender concerning the old demolished shops was for development of public parking, whereas the tender for installation of a cabin or food-court facility relates to the site of the DDLG Office which is the property of the Municipal Committee,” the reply said.
It challenged the locus standi of the petitioner, claiming the club has been non-functional since 2015 with no lawful elections. On the parking project, it said shops on 1 Kanal 08 Marla remained with private shopkeepers till Nov 2025 who surrendered possession through affidavits, after which shops were demolished for public parking with conditions that no permanent commercial structure would be built and only moveable food containers would be installed to bear charges of parking, washrooms and allied facilities.
On tree cutting, it said: “The allegation regarding cutting of trees by the respondents is incorrect. The trees were the property of the local government and had been planted in 2007-8.” It claimed an inquiry was held, Peeda proceedings initiated against a Sub-Engineer and 40 new trees were planted.
The administration said an FIR was lodged on Oct 16 at City Police Station on the complaint of CO MC Fayyaz Haleem Hashmi after Sub-Engineer Syed Hasnain Raza reported cutting of trees on government land outside DDLG Office on Oct 15.
Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2026
