LAHORE, May 28: Justice Muzammal Ahmad Khan of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday stayed the construction of Makro Cash and Carry Store in Model Town following two writ petitions challenging the conversion of an amenity plot into a department store.

The court also issued notices to Model Town Society and other respondents to file their replies.

Two petitions were filed, one by Model Town Residents’ Association President Amer Bakht Azam and the other by Dr Anis Alam and Zafar Masood, residents of an adjoining locality, Township.

The petitioners contended that despite in an earlier judgment given by a learned judge of the LHC, it was held the plot could not be converted into a commercial plot unless the master plan of the society was changed.

They said the respondents had signed a deal with Makro leasing out the plot to it for construction of its huge store.

They said the deal was against the LHC’s judgment and also that even if the master plan was amended, the plot could not be converted into a commercial area as this violated the fundamental rights of the petitioners. —Staff Reporter