LDA DG summoned in pending cases

LAHORE : The Lahore High Court Tuesday summoned for Wednesday (today) the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) director general for failing to submit replies in hundreds of petitions lying pending against the authority on different issues.

Justice Shahid Kairm issued the order on petitions observing that “They have tired of sending notices to the authority”. Azhar Majeed, Khurram Ameen, Asim Qureshi, Ghulam Rasool and many others had moved the petitions.

As the proceedings commenced, a lawyer who appeared on behalf of the Lahore Development Authority and submitted his power of attorney seeking time for preparation of cases. On it, Justice Shahid Karim observed that your power of attorney had not been here.

The lawyer replied that earlier Advocate Salman Mansoor had been representing the authority but now he had been asked for these cases. At this, the judge remarked that “the LDA has made fun of the court’s orders; Lahore Development Authority, its lawyers have been wasting public time and money”.

The judge also remarked that “It is not good reason that the Lahore High Court is waiting for the authority’s response and its lawyers don’t bother to appear”. Waqar A Sheikh, the counsel of LDA, appeared before the bench and pleaded the court that there might be any mistake by the LDA office which could be verified.

Justice Shahid Karim expressed dismay on the reply addressing the counsel “it is not your problem now the court will resolve this issue”. “No representative of the authorities does appear here before the Lahore High Court,” the judge further remarked. He also observed that it is not job of the courts that they keep issuing notices and the respondents keep just ignoring these notices.

It has been noticed that hundreds of cases have been lying pending against the authority, the judge said. Also, the court took notice of the lethargic attitude of the Federal Board of Revenue on the occasion observing that “the same is the practice of the FBR”. The court directed Advocate General Punjab to ensure presence of LDA DG on Wednesday (today).

A petitioner said his three kanal land was acquired by the Lahore Development Authority near Kalma Chowk but no compensation was paid to him. He pleaded the court to order the authority for payment of his dues. The court adjourned the hearing for today (Wednesday).