LAHORE - The Lahore High Court Thursday stayed acquisition of land for coal power plant near BRB Canal and directed the Punjab Energy Department, Power Development Company and others to submit replies.
Four citizens had challenged the construction of the power plant fort being a redundant technology near BRB canal. Advocate Azhar Siddique, the counsel of the petitioners, told the judge that one of the petitioners was intended to establish a housing scheme for the residents of the locality and entered into an arrangement for purchase of land at Mauza Jalu, Mauza Khera, Mauza Manawan, and Mauza Rampur Jageer.
He pointed out that the Punjab government established a company registered with Security & Exchange Commission of Pakistan in the name of “Punjab Power Development Limited” having aims to develop power projects with public private partnership and to arrange funding through loan negotiation and joint venture and others.
He said the Lahore Development Authority issued a notification on June 13, 2015 amending the integrated master plan of Lahore. Through the notification, the area bounded by GT Road, BRB Canal, Hudiara Drain, Bedian Road, Khaira Distributory, Burki Road and Shalimar Link Road had been converted from agricultural to residential use, he added.
He said the land proposed to be acquired was located within the newly declared residential area. The coal fired power plants could not possibly be allowed to be located within a residential area of the society.
The counsel said the pollution caused by the establishment and operation of the Small Coal Fired Power Plants in Lahore will fatally pollute the air and water for present and future generations who reside and work for gain in the vicinity of the proposed power Plants.
He said this act was directly violation of Articles 9, 14, 38 of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973, hence court are bound to implement the fundamental rights.
The court stayed the land acquisition for the project. The Court will resume hearing on July 15.
Report sought from DCO: The Lahore High Court Thursday directed the district coordination officer to submit report over arresting a butcher and detaining him for a month under 16 MPO allegedly making speeches causing public disturbance or printing material against the government.
Justice Hafiz Shahid Nadeem Kahloon heard the case. The judge directed the DCO to file reply to the petition within four days. The petitioner’s counsel raised a question that why should not the butchers be arrested for selling unhygenic meat. He stated that butchers should not be treated like political leaders and be detained under 16 MPO.
Counsel said that if there was any law, it should be exercised against the butchers for selling such injurious meat. He said that the butchers’ offence did not fall under category of making speeches or printing objectionable material against the government.
He said that the DCO action was mere abuse of process of law. He said that Adnan was detained under 16 MPO, which pertains to publication such as newspapers, magazine and books etc and also could be made applicable on the persons who may cause public disturbances through their speeches.
He said that this provision was not applicable on butchers. He requested to declare the detention order as illegal and order to immediately release Adnan.