SC adjourns Lahore high-rise building case

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

Friday, January 08, 2010
By Sohail Khan

ISLAMABAD: A three-member bench of the Supreme Court (SC), headed by Justice Javed Iqbal, rejected here on Thursday Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan’s plea seeking a stay order against the orders issued by the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) for demolition of illegal high-rise buildings in Lahore and adjourned the case till today (Friday).

Ahsan, the counsel for Builders and Developers Association, argued before the SC bench, hearing a suo moto case against the construction of high-rise buildings in Lahore. The court did not entertain most of his arguments in support of high-rise buildings.

Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan, while arguing the case, did not appear as impressive enough while pleading the court to direct the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) to stop its drive of demolition of high-rise buildings, mentioned in a notice published in newspapers.

“We cannot issue a stay order with close eyes,” Justice Javed Iqbal remarked adding that the court would hear other parties too in the case. Ahsan argued that tall buildings were constructed in the world in the wake of shortage of space. At this, Justice Javed Iqbal obsered buildings were constructed in foreign countries as per law while here we lack these things.

The learned counsel contended that lots of builders had invested huge money and lots of families were involved and, therefore, demolition of their construction would cause them huge loss. “We have to go according to the law,” Justice Javed Iqbal observed.