PESHAWAR, Nov 4: The Peshawar High Court has summoned various departmental secretaries for explanation over failure to restore the historical Shahi Bagh the park to its original shape by removing buildings raised in it.

A two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan and Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel here the other day took exception to the raising of buildings inside the park during a visit. The two judges saw different parts of Shahi Bagh and expressed dismay over their miserable condition.

The bench fixed the next hearing into the case for November 10, saying it wanted a feedback from the government as to why after removal of buildings having nothing to do with the visitors’ entertainment, the park could not be restored to its original shape or at least restore it to one which presented a look of a park.

“Before we pass any order directing the government to restore the original shape of the park let the responsible secretaries of local government, sports, environment and education and the district coordination officer apprise us as to what can possibly be done in this regard,” the bench observed.

The court also issued directions to the relevant authorities to tell as to how much money was earned from the buildings constructed in the park and how much was spent on it. The bench also sought similar information about another historical park, Wazir Bagh.

The chief justice had taken suo motu notice of the issue last year over an application sent by a social activist, Shakeel Waheedullah Khan, about the plight of different parks of the provincial capital and had converted it into a writ petition.