It seems formalities ignored in train project: LHC

Says govt should clearly tell court what it has done to save heritage, environment and ensure transparency

LAHORE

The Lahore High Court has remarked it seems that the government legal formalities have been ignored in Orange Line Metro Train Project from its beginning. 

Hearing several identical petitions against the project, head of the division Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh remarked that provisions of the Punjab Procurement Rules were not adopted and it seems that rules were trampled down. The judge said while questioning the alleged non fulfillment of PPR before assigning the project to Nespak which made its feasibility report in January 2014.

As the hearing started, Punjab Advocate General Shakirur Rehman started reading from the feasibility report on the project by MVA Asia Limited.

As the AG continued reading the report which stated about traffic needs of the city and requirements in future etc, Justice Sheikh said this report has nothing to do with the case the court is presently taking up. He said he does not know why the government is relying on this report time and again.

The judge said questions before the court should be answered by the government about its planning to save heritage and environment and to ensure transparency. The judge said how Nespak prepared feasibility report of the project even before the government engaged it.

And how Nespak engaged a Chinese company to execute the project on its own, the judge went on to say. At this the AG said these are the questions the federal government can give answers. He said some of these questions he wanted to tell in the MVA’s report.

He said he wanted to conclude his arguments on the cost of the project after reading this report. At this Justice Sheikh said it is not in the domain of the court to look into the expenses, the court want to see if this all is being done under the law. He said it is up to the parliament to decide about the expenses.

Adjourning the proceedings till Friday (today), the court asked the AG to give answers to the court about issues of heritage, environment and transparency.

However, the AG went on to request the court to let him read out the report of the MVA Asia.

The bench time and again asked him that time and again it had listened to this report since last three months and the government should clearly tell the court what it had done to save the heritage, environment and ensure transparency.

At the end, Justice Sheikh said the AG that at least he should bring a list before the court that what are the issues raised before the court. The court said even if he does not want to answer about these issues, at least he should submit a list of these issues.

The court was hearing a petition, among others, filed by Kamil Khan Mumtaz and others.

The petitioners’ counsel had submitted that various preserved historical places are being demolished to facilitate this project. They said the government did not follow the legal requirements before initiating this project. They requested the court to declare this project illegal and unconstitutional. 

free education: Justice Shahid Waheed of Lahore High Court Thursday gave last chance to the Punjab government for filing reply to the petition seeking directions for free education at the Aitcheson College. 

The judge ordered for submission of reply till May 25. The judge on April 14 had sought reply which was not submitted so far.

Petitioner Syed Feroze Shah Gillani submitted it was constitutional binding and government policy to provide free education to the students but the Aitcheson College was not fulfilling this national duty.

He said the Punjab Governor was the head of the college but even then it was not providing free education which was violation of the Constitution.

He sought directions to the college to give free education.