SC stays razing of high-rise building in Lahore

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

Thursday, January 21, 2010
By Sohail Khan

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed the demolition of the Big City Plaza by the Lahore Development Authority (LDA).

A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Javed Iqbal and comprising Justice Raja Fayyaz Ahmad and Justice Muhammad Sair Ali, was hearing the review petition against the apex court judgment on the demolition of the high-rise building in Lahore.

The court expressed its displeasure over LDA officials, who have been accused of minting money from illegal construction activity in Lahore and have now been deputed in the Anti-Corruption Department.

Justice Javed Iqbal observed it was strange that those who had been involved in corruption were now assigned to eradicate it. After Lahore, Quetta and Peshawar are also witnessing illegal construction of high-rise structures, he added.

The court directed the counsel for the LDA, Khwaja Haris, to submit a report on the action taken against the accused LDA officials. Justice Muhammad Sair Ali observed the time to take difficult decisions had come and the court would not be influenced by any party in this case.

The counsels for the defence, Hamid Khan and Abdul Hafiz Pirzada, argued it was not a simple case and razing of that building would badly affect the economy. They contented the LDA had started razing its top most 11th storey, arguing this action would render the whole structure dangerous for living.

They pointed out one hospital had already been demolished due to the court’s short order. Pirzada argued the court had issued the short order in haste and did not mention the reasons in detail. He pleaded the court should review its earlier judgment.