RAWALPINDI, Jan 31: The Lahore High Court, Rawalpindi bench, has admitted a petition filed by a citizen against “infringement of fundamental rights” by allowing sale and purchase of animals at open spaces, and issued notices to the civic agencies of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

Justice Tanveer Bashir Ansari admitted the petition, filed by Mirza Mohammad Shafi, which challenged the sale of animals in Khayaban-i-Sir Syed and green belt opposite to street 1 of Sector 1 and 2 of Khayaban.

Challenging the sale and purchase of animals at green belts, open spaces, parks surrounded by residential areas, the petitioner contended that “these places are the lungs of the city and basically meant and planned to provide pollution-free open spaces to the people”.

The LHC bench has issued notices to the CDA and Tehsil Municipal Administration, seeking comments on the petition.

The petitioner’s counsel, Mohammad Saad Subhani Advocate, argued that the fundamental rights, as enshrined in the Constitution, in terms of privacy of home, protection of family, security and well-being of the people and protection of property, were being violated by the authorities concerned, which issued illegal permission or licence for sale and purchase of animals.

“The life and liberty of the residents are also endangered and threatened before and after each Eidul Azha when the cattle sellers encroach upon the streets of densely populated residential areas due to unfriendly and anti-civil society approach of these authorities”, the complainant’s counsel argued.

“The Capital Development Authority or Tehsil Municipal Administration of Rawalpindi, as such, have no jurisdiction whatsoever to render these green belts/parks to any use other than the purpose for which these were basically planned and created,” he contended.

The counsel further submitted that it was a matter of great public importance as the lives of the residents became miserable in those days when the cattle sellers gathered outside their gates and virtually confined them to their houses.