LAHORE - The Lahore High Court yesterday asked the petitioners’ counsel to point out defects in revised No-Objection Certificates issued for construction of Orange Line project and adjourned proceedings for today (Wednesday) for further arguments.
A division bench headed by Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh and comprising Justice Shahid Karim heard the case. As the hearing commenced, the petitioners’ counsel, Advocate Azhar Siddique argued on fresh NOCs and maintained that the government cannot issue revised NOCs as the court had stayed construction on 11 heritage sites on Orange Line route.
However, the court asked him to point out defects in the NOCs but he wished to seek adjournment. The counsel also argued on MV Asia’s feasibility report, saying that the report was ignored during the execution of the project.
The petitioner’s counsel had filed application for amendment but he did not press his application. He also could not satisfy the court on not joining the advisory committee rather said he was collecting material to confront.
The court observed that other than the statements by the petitioner, no body or person either joined or agitated the heritage issue.
The petitioner, however, replied that Unesco was holding a conference on the Orange Line Metro Train Project and its effect on heritage. On this point, the court observed: "If Unesco considered it a serious or cogent threat they would have called a conference much earlier.”
On January 28, the division bench stayed construction of Orange Line at eleven historical monuments on several petitions challenging its construction for being threat to the environment and cultural landscape.
Today, Advocate Asma Jahangir will argue on the case on behalf of the petitioners.