Rawalpindi
Justice Ibad-ur-Rehman Lodhi of the Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi Bench here Monday directed heads of city administration to implement court order regarding removal of encroachments from the city in two days or be ready to face contempt of court proceedings.
On August 25, LHC bench had directed all city heads to appear in person before the court on August 29. In compliance to the orders all city mangers were there in the court on Monday.
District Coordination Officer Talat Mahmood Gondal, Rawalpindi Cantonment Board Executive Officer Dr Saima Shah, Chaklala Cantonment Board Executive Officer Rana Rafique, Rawal Town Administrator Nazia Perveen Suddan, Potohar Town Administrator Arif Rahim, and a lawyer representing Rawalpindi Development Authority could not satisfy the court regarding non-implementation of the May 26 orders.
Justice Lodhi expressed his annoyance over the non-implementation of the May 26 orders regarding removal of encroachments from street, bazaar and nullahs of the city, to clear road passages from odd and substandard speed breakers and to remove illegal car parking.
Justice Lodhi severely admonished the city heads and said that the city administration flouted court order and whatever it did in the pretext of eliminating encroachments is mere an eyewash.
"You don't have any intentions to clear the areas," LHC said. Whatever encroachers you challaned they came back once again to the same spots and not even a single area of the city is encroachment free.
LHC bench directed city administration to implement court orders in letter and spirit and submit a report by September 1. LHC bench also expressed annoyance over administrator's inaction regarding hiring new staff to launch anti-encroachment campaign. The court had already directed the Rawal Town administrator to hire more staff and remove encroachments from thickly populated localities and roads of Raja Bazaar.
All this happened after a petitioner, Muhammad Anwar Dar, filed a contempt of court petition with the court while contending that the city administration virtually did not take any step forward for addressing issues in the city.
Petitioner, in his petition under article 204 of the constitution, has claimed that the city administration has not implemented court orders dated May 26.
Petitioner adopted that the LHC bench in its judgment had directed city administration to clear the city roads and nullahs from encroachments but it did not pay heed to the court order that is against norms of law and justice.
On June 2, LHC bench had disposed of the petition while directing the city administration "to continue with the campaign launched under direction of this court, which otherwise is to be undertaken under the relevant provisions regulating the business-affairs of such authorities".
Petitioner said that the entire campaign remain active for few days and thereafter it was stopped and encroachers were allowed to retake the areas already cleared under directions from this court.
Petitioner said that the acts of respondents, not complying with the court orders amounts to contempt of court and they may be preceded accordingly.