LAHORE: A Lahore High Court full bench on Thursday gave time to the Punjab government to file a reply to petitions against construction of a signal-free corridor from Qartaba Chowk, Jail Road, to Liberty Chowk, Main Boulevard, Gulberg.

As the bench resumed hearing, Advocate General Naveed Rasool Mirza appeared before it and sought time to come up with government’s point of view in the case. The bench allowed the request and adjourned hearing till March 30.

The bench comprised Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Muhammad Yawar Ali and Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh.

The public interest litigation petitions were filed by Fahad Malik, Ms Imrana Tiwana and the Lahore Conservation Society.

In this case, Justice Shah as a single bench stayed the project on March 6 and directed the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) to immediately remove all machinery/cranes from the construction site.

Later, the Lahore High Court chief justice formed a full bench to further hear the matter.

The petitioners mainly questioned many violations of rules and the law by the government before the launch of the signal-free corridor project.

US BOUNTY: The Lahore High Court on Thursday asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to tell whether it could defend Pakistani citizens in foreign countries.

Justice Shams Mahmood Mirza was hearing a petition challenging a United States act of fixing of bounty on Jamatud Dawa chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed and his deputy Hafiz Abdur Rehman Makki. The judge adjourned hearing till April 13.

During 2012, US Under Secretary of State Wendy Sherman revealed in New Delhi that $10 million and $3 million had been announced on the heads of Hafiz Saeed and Hafiz Makki respectively.

The petitioners through their counsel said the announcement of bounty was liable to be withdrawn and they needed to be protected being citizens of Pakistan.

They asked the court to direct the government to protect them and make arrangements for their security.

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2015

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