Stay on Expressway extended

[Salman]

LAHORE- Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah of the Lahore High Court Monday requested the chief justice to constitute a full bench on petitions seeking stay order against the construction of elevated expressway from Gulberg to Motorway-II by acquiring land from the local residents.
The judge extended the stay order given earlier on the petitions challenging construction of Elevated Expressway through Shadman, LOS, Samnabad to Motorway-II until October 23.
The petitioners told the judge that the government had imposed an emergency like situation and acquiring land from them by demolishing their homes to build the express way.
They said that the government, however, could not convey them the reasons behind this urgency. They requested the judge to set aside the ‘Emergency Plan’ by the government to acquire land for this purpose from the local residents.
A law officer representing the Lahore Development Authority told the judge that the government issued notifications to the public in order to build the way as soon as possible. Upon which, the judge asked the legal advisor that why the government was pretending that there was some kind of emergency and started acquired land from the general public.
“Can the government acquire land from public by showing urgency under the Land Acquisition Act”, asked the Judge.
Considering the matter as much important for public interest, Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah requested the chief justice to constitute a full bench and extended the stay order until October 23.