ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday allowed the Punjab government to go ahead with its Ravi riverfront development project after suspending the decision of the Lahore High Court (LHC) that declared the project illegal.
A two-member bench of Justice Ijazul Ahsen and Justice Mazahir Ali Akbar Naqvi suspended the LHC's decision and allowed the Punjab government to continue with its project. The top court on Monday admitted for regular hearing of appeals challenging the LHC's decision and issued notices to the parties concerned. If there is a possibility to file an intra-court appeal (ICA), the matter will be referred back to the High Court, the court said.
During the hearing, the court raised some legal questions regarding the matter, but Punjab Advocate General Ahmed Awais could not satisfactorily answer the questions of the court along with the legal team of the provincial government. "Tell us what's your matter?" Justice Ahsan asked the Punjab AG.
Justice Mazhir Ali Akbar Naqvi said that it appears that the AG has come to the court without preparation. However, Justice Ijajul Ahsen said that there were some 18 petitions before the LHC in this case, so it did not matter that the provincial government was not a party to a case.
Ahmed Awais, however, argued that the petitions filed before the LHC were against the Environment Agency's public hearing. "So don't make false statements before us," Justice Ahsen told the provincial legal team.
The court further noted in its order that when it raised a question as to why an intra court appeal was not filed against the LHC order, the provincial government argued that it did not happen because the real forum for seeking relief was the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, the court adjourned the hearing after directing all the parties to submit additional documents before it. The High Court had held that the master plan of the Ravi Riverfront Urban Development Project is the original document and all plans under the law are subject to the master plan. The court, in its order, had said that Section 4 of the Ruda Amendment Ordinance is contrary to Article 144-A of the Constitution.
Even the ordinance failed to meet the requirements of the Constitution. The court had also declared the takeover notification under Section 4 to be illegal.
Special Advisor to the Chief Minister Hasan Kharwar on Monday welcomed the Supreme Court's decision on the Ravi Urban project and said the courts are very respectful to him. Addressing a press conference at Multan Press Club, he said that PTI has always respected the decisions of the institutions. The problems of the city of Lahore have to be understood.
The city of Lahore developed strangely, he said. No city has been planned in Pakistan after Islamabad. Forty years later, a new city was planned, he said. Kharwar said that Ravi Urban Project is a project of 20 billion rupees. Lakhs of jobs will be created from this project. 30 industries will benefit from the project. The project will include seven forests and eight water treatment plants. He said the opposition is always in the middle of the deal. Nawaz Sharif does not want to come to Pakistan without guarantee.
He said that the government of CM Usman Buzdar has started projects worth Rs 360 billion. PPP does not want to leave the Sindh government. Health cards will be issued in Multan from February 22. The budget of South Punjab will not be used elsewhere as South Punjab was ignored earlier. He requested the media houses to increase the salary of journalists.