The Supreme Court has directed DG Archaeology Punjab to stop construction of a plaza which has badly damaged archaeological and historic Old City Wall at Sheranwala Gate, Lahore.
A three-member bench of the Court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry had taken suo motu action on newspaper reports against illegal construction of the plaza at Sheranwala Gate, Lahore. The Court directed Nazim Ravi Town and Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) to ensure implementation of these orders in letter and spirit.
The Court further directed Nazim Ravi Town, Lahore to prepare a report of such areas in his jurisdiction where such encroachments/unauthorised construction has taken place alongside the citadel wall or anywhere else.
The Court directed that all the nazims of civil division Lahore should also initiate action against all such encroachments and the matter should be brought in notice of DCO and DG Archaeology.
The court also director Archaeology Punjab to prepare a separate and comprehensive report on encroachments/unauthorised construction in Lahore with assistance of DCO Lahore and ordered that the report should be submitted before the Court on next hearing.
DG Archaeology was directed to conduct an independent survey of all the areas in Lahore division as well as in other parts of all the provinces and initiate action against the persons who are encroachers or are raising unauthorised construction at such protected building sites/antiquities and submit report on next date of hearing.
According to details of the case Hajji Ishaque is constructing a plaza at the site and has demolished a particular portion of the Old City Wall providing entrance into the plaza. Taimur Azmat Usman, secretary information, culture and youth affairs had told the Court in earlier hearing that this construction activity is in violation of the Antiquities Act, 1975 and the construction is illegal.
Hearing a civil petition of Saleem Malik, former cricketer, Chief Justice Iftikhar directed Pakistan Cricket Board to provide all record of rules and regulations of the International Cricket, which has a bearing on the subject.
In another HR case about abduction of 14 year old girl, the Chief Justice directed SP investigation, Model Town Lahore to conduct independent, thorough probe into the matter to find out the facts of the case. The complainant has alleged that a Faisal and his accomplices kidnapped his minor daughter, 14 years old, on 21-12-2006. Although he had lodged an FIR in police station Achra, the police station has failed to take action and has seemingly, joined hands with the culprits and instead of recovering the abducted girl, they are pressurising him to make a compromise. He alleged that the culprits have also produced a fake ID Card, which states her age 18 years and five months.
SP investigation told the Court that he has asked Nadra authorities to submit record of the case and the medical superintendent of Services Hospital has been requested for ossification test to ascertain the age of the girl. The Chief Justice directed SP investigation to ensure safety of the girl. He also directed to initiate an enquiry against investigation officer, Muhammad Saleem SI observing "it seems that he has failed to conduct the case properly".
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