LAHORE - The Lahore High Court on Wednesday ordered demolition of a wall erected at the entry gate of Race Course Park facing GOR-I. Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed passed this order while disposing of a petition challenging the erection of wall. The petition was filed by a lawyer Shafqat Mahmood Chauhan. The judge further ordered that no security measure would be taken on permanent basis like erecting walls and blockade of roads. However, the authorities could make security arrangements and place barricades on the roads but these thoroughfares would not be blocked in any way. The court also stopped govt officials from cutting down trees of the area with a view to protect its beautification and environment. The IGP, commissioner and DG Parks and Horticulture appeared before the court and defended governments decision of erecting wall saying it had been done for security purposes. They told the court that 8 out of 12 roads of GOR had been opened for public and a huge parking area was also being built to provide alternative place to people. Few students present in the court told the judge that the police had also blocked Naval War College Road which the court ordered to reopen. On previous hearing, the judge had chided the public functionaries saying if government officers residing in GOR-I had life threats then they should not come their offices. The judge had angrily asked the police officer whether the residents of GOR-I were the only citizens of this country and who will protect the lives of common citizens living outside GOR? A local lawyer had challenged the closure of Race Course Gate No 3 on the directions of IGP Punjab due to security reasons. The petitioner said to provide security to citizens was the major responsibility of state instead of creating hurdles for the citizens. He said the barricades erected in GOR-I had affected more than 5,000 daily visitors of Race Course Park which was a violation of basic human rights. He prayed to the court to issue directions to the PHA authorities to restore the entry of visitors in the park by removing the barricades.