LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Monday stayed the demolition of the outer wall of the Punjab Governor House and directed the provincial government that not a single brick [of the wall] be dislodged.

Justice Mamoonur Rasheed Sheikh of the LHC issued the stay order while hearing a petition moved by a lawyer challenging the government’s decision to bulldoze the boundary wall of the Governor House on the instructions of Prime Minister Imran Khan in a bid to make the colonial-era building visible to the general public.

The petitioner’s counsel Ahsan Naveed Farooqi informed the court that a day after the prime minister’s order, the government started demolishing the Governor House’s wall on Sunday. He argued that the Governor House had cultural, architectural and historical significance and thereby protected under Section 10 of the National Antiquities Act 1975 and Section 5 of the Punjab Special Premises (Preservation) Ordinance 1985.

The counsel contended that the government’s act was in gross violation of the two laws that strictly prohibited destruction of special premises. He pointed out that the decision to demolish the Governor House’s boundary wall raised several questions among the people of Lahore who considered it a heritage site. Moreover, he added, a mandatory permission had not been sought from the provincial cabinet.

Mr Farooqi said security measures had not been adopted by the government while razing the wall as VIP movement would be exposed to risk after installing an iron grille. He requested the court to restrain the government from razing the wall being an unlawful act and order a legal action against those who had instructed the demolition and were involved in bulldozing the wall.

Justice Sheikh recalled that he had been witnessing the Governor House’s wall since his childhood.

A provincial law officer informed the court that the boundary wall did not fall within the definition of the protected premises.

However, Justice Sheikh restrained the government from demolishing the wall and sought detailed replies from the federal and provincial governments on legal questions raised in the petition. He also warned that violators of the stay order would be sent to jail.

The next date of hearing will be fixed by the court office.

Published in Dawn, December 4th, 2018