LAHORE – Lahore High Court gave a last chance on Wednesday to Lahore Development Authority (LDA) on behalf of the Punjab government on a petition challenging the proposed conversion of recreational park at the Lahore Press Club Journalist Housing Scheme Lahore into a residential area by carving out plots for 295 newly-inducted members of the club.
Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed of the LHC adjourned the hearing till March 22 and ordered the LDA to produce all relevant records of the housing scheme. On January 21 the court had during preliminary hearing had restrained the Punjab government from converting the park into residential plots. On Wednesday the stay was extended till next hearing date.
The judge earlier remarked that prima facie bar existed on converting the allocated land for developing a park into residential plots. A senior journalist, Din Muhammad Dard, had challenged the conversion of recreational park into residential area. He submitted that the elected body of Lahore Press Club including its president Sarmad Bashir had distributed forms among new members to provide them plots in the parks, which is in violation of the law.
