RAWALPINDI, March 7: The construction of the much-awaited judicial complex at the old jail site is in doldrums after the law enforcement agencies termed it a security risk following two suicide attacks on President Gen Pervez Musharraf near the site three months ago.

Sources told Dawn that due to the close proximity of the old jail building to the Army House, the project had been shelved by the authorities. "The law enforcement agencies had strictly opposed the project even before the attack on the president which was why the foundation stone of the project, scheduled to be laid by the chief justice of the Lahore High Court in October last year, could not take place," a police official said. And, after the attacks, the project was shelved," he said.

Officials said the Punjab Revenue Board had leased about 89 kanals at the old jail site, including 82 kanals presently housing the Police Training College, to the Lahore High Court (LHC) for construction purpose more than six months ago.

The project included the construction of more than 40 new courts which would accommodate all the courts presently scattered throughout the city due to want of proper place on the district courts premises.

Besides, the project also included the allocation of special spaces to the lawyers' chambers along with the construction of proper waiting rooms for people and the building of a complete block for stamp-paper sellers.

About the funding, officials said it had been decided that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) would be requested to fund the project through a soft-term loan. Besides, the ADB loan, some of the amount for the project had been proposed to be made available from the special fund of the chief justice of the Lahore High Court.