LAHORE, Sept 23: The Lahore High Court chief justice on Friday reserved verdict on a petition challenging Punjab government's Ashiana Housing Scheme for Lahore and alleging irregularities in the balloting process.

Opposing the petition, additional advocate general Muhammad Hanif Khatana said draw for allotment of houses was done on merit and its results were available on internet. He said there was no mala fide intention of the government in this scheme but to provide houses to the poor.

Iftikhar Rajpoot filed the petition through Barrister Javed Iqbal Jaffrey and contended that the step of providing houses at an affordable price to the poor was indeed a good step to meet the residential needs of the people belonging to the lower stratum of society. However, he alleged the allotment conducted for the scheme was not transparent and fair.

He said favourites and blue-eyed of the authorities running the scheme were being gratified and given houses and the deserving people kept out of the process.

After hearing both sides, the CJ reserved the judgment.