The Lahore High Court (LHC) here on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of a petition challenging construction of Liberty Park and Ride Plaza as counsel of the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) sought time for filing reply. Accepting adjourned the proceedings accordingly and directed the counsel to file the reply within two weeks.
The court was holding proceedings in the petitions moved by a legal firm Mohammad & Ahmed and shop owners against the construction of Ride Plaza Which, the petitioners claim, has been built on the land which was originally allocated for the development of a park.
The petitioner prayed of staying auction of 26 shops on the floor of the Plaza inter alia contending that it was based on malafide intent that their customers are not being allowed to park vehicles in front of their shops. The petitioners said the land was an open space owned by the PHA which illegally transferred to LDA for construction of this plaza.
They said in this plaza the shops were constructed for running business which was badly affecting their business. They requested the court to declare that open space was still in the ownership and control of PHA and that all subsequent transactions or transfers of it by any authority were without any legal jurisdiction and had to be treated as nullities in law. The petitioners also challenged closure of roads to facilitate the plaza by installing small poles and chains and erecting huge plants.