SC dismisses plea seeking stay order against LDA directives for demolition of illegal

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

ISLAMABAD: A 3member bench of Supreme Court (SC) headed by Justice Javed Iqbal has dismissed the plea from Chaudhry Aitazaz Ahsan seeking stay order against the orders issued by Lahore Development Authority (LDA) for demolition of illegal high rise buildings in Lahore.

During the course of hearing of the plea, justice Javed Iqbal remarked court could not grant stay orders by closing the eyes.

Noted lawyer barrister Aitzaz Ahsan appeared in the court on behalf of Association of Developers and builders in the petition filed by them against demolition of high rise buildings by LDA.

Aitzaz Ahsan took the plea notice had been issued by LDA to the owners of the buildings that as per report of commission constituted by SC, the construction of these plazas was illegal, therefore, they should vacate these buildings within two days and demolish them other wise LDA on its own would demolish them.

Aitzaz Ahsan pleaded the notice issued by LDA to the owners of the plazas was illegal as the commission was required to submit its report to SC. LDA was issuing the notice on the basis of report of the commission which was wrong , he added. LDA was misusing SC orders and it was using these orders as general orders, he said. LDA had no authority to start demolishing buildings by using SC orders as general orders, he argued.

Justice Javed Iqbal remarked "we can not issue orders for every building. It was job of administration to see which building was legal and which was illegal.

Aitzaz Ahsan argued construction industry was engine of the national economy. Investors were being affected due to such steps of LDA, he added. Therefore, interim stay order be granted.

The 3-member bench of SC while rejecting plea by Aitzaz Ahsan adjourned the hearing till today.