The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has plunged in a nutcracker situation in BOR Society plaza demolition case as glaring contradictions in LDA’s own inquiry reports and FIR registered at Johar Town Police Station have surfaced.
Emergence of conflicting points raised by LDA’s own inquiry report to fix the responsibility of the tragedy and FIR aiming to hold the accused accountable for plaza demolition has caused a wave of panic among the LDA high-ups. “The gaps will put LDA in trouble during legal proceedings and may lead to the termination of LDA DG Abdul Jabbar Shaheen for misleading the court,” a senior official in LDA told Pakistan Today.
On the instructions of LDA DG, Director (Administration) Khalid Pervaiz had an FIR No 720/11 registered in Johar Town Police Station on September 24 against plaza owner Shahid Mehmood, his son Faizan Shahid, LDA officials including Chief Engineer Saeed Akhtar, Town Planning Director Shiekh Khalid, EME Director Abdul Razzak, Buildings Director Malik Ahmed Nawaz, Buildings Deputy Director Iqbal Javeed and others on the deaths of four people during plaza demolition on September 23.
According to official press release issued by LDA, it was clarified that FIR was lodged in the light of the inquiry committee headed by LDA ADG (Headquarter) Hafiq Ahsanul Haq and comprising WASA MD Dr Javed Iqbal, Dir DG (HQ) Fawad Amir and Admin Director Khalid Pervaiz. However, LDA official record revealed that inquiry report submitted its finding on September 26 to LDA DG Abdul Jabbar Shaheen.
“The facts show a malafide intention on the part of LDA. How could it be possible that LDA had an FIR registered on September 24 on the finding of inquiry report which was filed on September 26; two days after FIR’s lodging? Difference of 48 hours is a big gap which has become a headache for LDA top guns,” said an LDA official.
Meanwhile, LDA has claimed in the FIR that the town administration issued illegal map for the construction of plaza on BOR society, however it did not include town administration in the case, sources revealed, adding that FIR also excluded the factor of LHC’s stay orders and other litigation on the plaza. It is also strange that instead of relatives of the deceased, LDA director Admin Khalid Pervaiz came forward and had the case lodged.
