LAHORE - The 300-year-old Imambargah in Haveli Mian Khan located at Rang Mehal in walled city has been converted into a parking garage in sheer violation of the rules (that) - the building is the trust property - and be used only for holding mourning meetings. With this, illegal construction at the site of the Imambargah is intact despite the DCO orders to demolish the structure after Ashura. The illegal occupants namely Hammad Mushtaq and Ammad Mushtaq have changed the premises of the Imambargah into rickshaw stand, giving a loud and clear message to high-ups that nobody even the law of the land could stop them from materialising their ulterior objectives. The move clarifies that those who have physical possession of the land in guise of custodian carry merely commercial ambitions, and want to use the Imambargah building just to mint money. The conversion of the Imambargah into rickshaw stand has not only offended the sanctity of the worship place, but also set off a wave of outrage among the mourners. DCO Sajjad Ahmed Bhutta visited the place after the nasty development on Sunday last. Accompanied by his team, the DCO got the public feedback, which strongly resented and asked for prompt action. However, authority looks not in a mood to strike against the accused. The group of mourners, who also moved the court over the issue, tried to meet the DCO to seek justice. But efforts could not bear the fruit so far. Well-placed sources said that mourners led by Abid Shamsi filed three applications in DCO office on December 9, 15 and 17 to inform the DCO that illegal construction at the site of Imambargah could not be demolished despite his orders. They also filed a fresh application to seek official permission to hold their mourning meetings in Imambargah from January 12-25. However, over the last many days they are driven from pillar to post to exercise their fundamental right. Imambargah in Haveli Mian Khan, featuring Mughal architecture, is one of the unique buildings of more than 320 imambargahs in the City. Two month backs illegal occupants reduced into rubble the Imambargah in sheer violation of the ban imposed by the Punjab government on demolition or alteration of any historical building in walled city. The accused started construction despite court orders to keep intact the original status and nature of the Imambargah, prohibiting everyone from bringing any changes in its structure through its orders issued on November 2, 2009. Meanwhile, TMO Ravi Town Ahmed Kamal ordered to stop the unlawful activity forthwith. However, the orders were trashed and illegal construction continued. Later on, TMA Ravi Town got FIR registered against the accused that led the half of construction activity. The DCO issued the orders to demolish the portion illegally built at the site of the Imambargah after Ashura. Now, a number of days have lapsed but demolition operation could not be started. On the application of a Shia leader, Syed Abid Ali Shamsi, LHC Justice Ijaz Ahmad Ch sought an explanation from the Punjab Home Secretary for allegedly failing to resolve the demolition issue of the Imambargah despite a court order. In his petition, Abid Ali Shamsi said that the LHC on December 22 directed the Home Secretary to take notice of the issue and resolve it within seven days. He alleged that he had approached the Secretary on numerous occasions, but no progress had been made so far despite a lapse of 24 days. Recently he filed attempt application but still waiting the justice to be done on the issue.