LAHORE, April 27: A Lahore High Court review board rejected on Saturday a government plea to shift the Jaish-i-Mohammad chief from his Bahawalpur residence to the Sihala rest house.

The provincial home department said in its application that Maulana Masood Azhar, who was being held in preventive custody, was shifted from jail to his residence, which was declared a sub-jail, as directed by the review board. However, the police was finding it difficult to provide him security there. His house was situated in a congested area.

Contesting the plea, the detainee said he wanted to live with his children and old parents. It would be difficult for him to keep in touch with his family from Sihala.

The review board comprising Justices Karamat Nazir Bhandari, Mian Najamuzzaman and Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry rejected the government plea.

DIRECTIVE TO LDA: The Lahore High Court has ordered the LDA to hand over possession of four exempted plots to a woman whose inherited land was acquired over 22 years ago for its Sabzazaar housing scheme.

Justice Chaudhry Ijaz Ahmad observed in his order on Friday that the Lahore Development Authority counsel had been seeking adjournment of the case on various grounds.

Petitioner Shahnaz Akhtar submitted through Advocate Maqbul Sadiq that the authority reluctantly agreed to allot her four plots in lieu of 20 kanals acquired from her.

The officials concerned then did their best to withhold possession on one pretext or another. Ultimately, they cancelled the allotment and allotted her plots near Babu Sabu on the Ravi Road.

The court observed that a citizen cannot be punished for the inaction of a functionary. Public functionaries and citizens are equal before law and the former cannot be allowed to take benefit of their own misdeeds.

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