LHC directs LDA to resolve Bahria Town issue in 6 weeks

[Salman]

LAHORE : The Lahore High Court on Monday directed the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) director general to resolve in six weeks the issue regarding legality of the Bahria Town new phase and alleged defamation campaign by the Authority against the housing society.

The court issued the order while disposing of a petition moved by Amjad Nawaz Bhatti and others through Advocate Dr Basit. The counsel submitted that the petitioners were owners of plots in Sector-D and E of Bahria Town, Lahore, which were also known as Orchard Phase-II. He pointed out that the respondents, including the LDA, had initiated a massive defamation campaign through electronic and print media requesting people to abstain from buying plots in sectors D, E and F of Bahria Town Lahore for being developed without approval of a competent authority.



He contended that the LDA had no authority to take such an action as scheme did not require NoC (Not-Objection Certificate) from the LDA. The petitioners alleged that the Punjab government, which was under control of a politically hostile regime, had formed a criminal conspiracy to damage reputation of Bahria Town. The prices of plots had decreased due to this defamation campaign, they added.The petitioners requested the court to issue directions to the LDA to quell the campaign and refrain from exercising control on Bahria Town. Justice Ijazul Ahsan heard arguments from both sides and referred the petition to The LDA director general to decide the dispute within six weeks.