LAHORE, Sept 6: The Lahore High Court on Thursday dismissed several petitions against shifting of the cattle market from Bund Road to Shahpur Kanjaran.

An association of cattle vendors and others had filed the petitions praying to set aside a notification issued by the Lahore DCO for shifting of the cattle market from Bakar Mandi to Shahpur Kanjaran. They pleaded that the new place for the market was far-off from the city and would create problems for the vendors.

An additional advocate-general on behalf of the Punjab government argued that the cattle market was being shifted to a new place in the light of an earlier order issued by the high court. He said the old cattle market was causing severe traffic problems in the area and there were unhygienic conditions.

He pointed out that all facilities had been provided to the cattle vendors at the new market.

The court dismissed the petitions after being convinced of the arguments against them.

Indus Basin Treaty The Lahore High Court on Thursday sought a reply from the federal government on a petition challenging government’s negligence towards violation of Indus Basin Water Treaty by India.

Kisan Board Pakistan filed the petition through its counsel, Mirza Abdul Khalique, and submitted that the neighbouring country had started construction of two dams on the River Sindh in sheer violation of the Indus Basin Water Treaty.

The counsel argued that under the Indus treaty, India could not build dam on the Indus but the Pakistan government had not taken notice of the violation so far. He pointed out that in past the neighbouring country had already violated the water treaty by constructing dams on Jhelum and Chenab rivers but our government remained unmoved.

He prayed that the government should be directed to approach the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against India’s illegal acts, otherwise, agriculture in Pakistan would be destroyed.

Justice Ijazul Ahsan heard the initial arguments and issued notices to the federal government, the ministry of water and power and the ministry of foreign affairs as well. The judge directed the respondents to file their replies within three weeks.