Green Bench of the Lahore High Court on Friday stopped Model Town Society (MTS) from continuing its three commercial projects at the cost of trees and green places in the parks of the area. The bench comprising Justice Mansoor Ali Shah stopped J Block, Liner Park and Model Town Park Commercialisation Projects planned by the MTS by getting approval in its Annual General Meeting.
Justice Mansoor Ali Shah granting stay issued notice to the respondents including president and secretary of Model Town Society, and Director General of environment protection agency, Registrar of Co-operation Society Punjab for March 29. Petitioners, Tanwir Ahmed and Advocate Uzair Karamat Bhandari residents of the society, submitted that green areas of Model Town are well kept visually beautiful and contributes to the life and health of its residents. They said on December 2, 2012 annual general meeting of Model Town Society illegally approved the three projects illegally and against the by-laws of the MTS.
The petitioners alleged that the AGM was attended by various non-members. They said the real members were not allowed to give their proposals at the AGM. They said, in February 2003, the respondents hewed hundreds of trees to initiate J Block Commercialisation Project. They prayed the court to declare the commercialisation projects illegal and permanently restrain the MTS from attempting to commercialise green spaces.