Immediate damage control has meant Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Director General (DG) Abdul Jabbar Shaheen is likely to escape legal and departmental action in the plaza demolition in Johar Town which caused 4 deaths and 23 injuries, LDA sources said on Saturday.
Sources said LDA had acted smartly to save its DG, who ordered staff to raze the ill-fated plaza despite a stay order, by shifting responsibility on LDA officials supervising the demolition. This coupled with the offer of financial compensations to wounded labourers and the families of deceased workers’ families, the suspension of some officials and the constitution of an investigation committee appears to enough to save the LDA DG from reprimand. LDA sources said, “Since the LDA DG is close to Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Shahbaz Sharif, he will be spared the Khadam-e-Aala Punjab’s traditional wrath.”
A senior LDA official said, “It shall unfold as per routine. Minor officials will be made scapegoats while those actually responsible would be let go scot free again.” He said four officers have been suspended and an inquiry has been initiated against them. He said LDA would file the application to registration a criminal case against them the minute the report is completed.
Meanwhile, Additional District and Sessions Judge Malik Tariq Mahmood Zargham on Saturday directed station house officer (SHO) Johar Town to register a case if any cognizable offence was established against the ten LDA officials, including three deputy directors, under investigation for alleged involvement for the demolition gone bad.
The directions were issued by the court while hearing the application filed by plaza owner Mian Shahid Mahmood u/s 22-A/22-B, seeking court direction to register criminal cases against ten LDA officials including deputy directors Azhar Ali, Malik Ahmad and Choudhary Akram.
