LAHORE, Feb 23: Justice Muhammad Saeed Akhtar of the Lahore High Court on Thursday reserved judgment on a writ petition through which the residents of Gulberg had challenged the construction of an elitist entertainment complex at the Doongi Ground on M.M. Alam Road.

Earlier, advocate-general Aftab Iqbal submitted that the government had planned to utilize 40 per cent of the land of the Doongi Ground park while the remaining area would continue to be allocated as ‘open space’ which the residents could use for recreational purposes.

The petitioners opposed the construction of the proposed entertainment complex, which also included a cinema house by the Punjab Entertainment Company at the Doongi Ground which, they contended, was a playground whose character could not be changed.

What transpired through the arguments advanced by lawyers on the two sides and submissions made by high-ranking officers during the course of the proceedings, is that the construction of the complex had been undertaken without an approval by the Lahore Development Authority and the express permission by the Environment Protection Department.

The project is estimated to cost about Rs1.34 billion and the Parks and Horticulture Authority is executing it. The Punjab government had also provided to the company a grant of Rs800 million for the complex.

The petitioners have objected to the project on the plea that a playground could not be encroached upon to use its land for the purpose other than prescribed. They also opposed the formation of the company in contravention of the Punjab government’s rules of business.

Another objection raised by the petitioners was that the playground could not be transferred to the PHA which was in violation of the rules.