LAHORE - Orange Line Project is part of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the Punjab government told the Lahore High Court yesterday.
The government said that the matter is sensitive and it is not appropriate to submit documents related to this project before the court. On it, the court observed that it would summon the documents too if the court feels it appropriate.
The court ordered the Punjab government to submit written reply before the next hearing and adjourned further hearing until January 25.
The whole city and its historical monuments are under threats after the government announced to build Orange Line Project to provide modern transportation of the lahorities, according to the petitions filed before the court.
On Thursday, as the proceedings commenced, Khwaja Haris appeared before the court on behalf of the Punjab government. The counsel for the petitioners submitted that the project was initiated without proper planning. He stated before initiation of the project, electricity, water and sui gas lines were not shifted to the proper places and no vehicular traffic was managed.
He said because of non availability of the alternative roads, traffic jams can be witnessed on every road throughout the day. He said even ambulances remain stuck for hours in the traffic jam.
The counsel said the Rs365 billion project of the metro train was not approved by the Punjab Assembly. They said the project put heritage of the Lahore city on stake as 26 historical and protected monuments including Shalimar Garden, General Post Office, Supreme Court-Lahore registry, Lahore High Court and Chauburji were going to lose their significance.
He added that the government was utilising funds allocated for other sectors like education and health for the project of metro train.
They pointed out that Unesco also opposed the project for being a serious threat to environment and other reasons.
Meanwhile, Supreme Court (Lahore registry) was moved for directions to the government to ensure reopening of YouTube available in other countries instead of a special version for Pakistan.
The petitioner also has requested the court for directions to the government to make the details of the contract public which took place between the government and the administration of YouTube in this regard.
Barrister Zafarullah Khan filed the petition and said that the access to the information cannot be minimized according to the constitution of Pakistan. He said YouTube’s localized version is against the constitutional provisions regarding access to information and aimed at depriving citizens and students from information available on YouTube for other countries.
He submitted that the government should be directed to ensure reopening of YouTube in the country which is available in other countries and make public the conditions of the contract taken place between the government and the administration of the YouTube in this regard.
Four DPOs transferred
Punjab Inspector General of Police Mushtaq Ahmad Sukhera yesterday ordered the transfers and postings of four district police officers.
According to a notification issued from the central police office, AIG (Training) Zeshan Asghar was transferred and posted as district police officer Rahim Yar Khan.
Zahid Nawaz was transferred and posted DPO Attock district while Muhammad Ayyaz Saleem was transferred and posted as DPO Nankana Sahib.
Shahzada Sultan, DPO Nankana Sahib, was transferred and posted as AIG training at the Punjab central police office.