12-25-2010, 05:37 PM
LAHORE: A full bench of the Supreme Court, while hearing an appeal of the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) about blocking of roads, issued notice to the Lahore Cantonment Board, the Lahore Development Authority and others for January 14, 2011. The DHA had challenged the Lahore High Court order of opening the roads, which it had blocked over a claim that these were exclusively owned by the DHA. The Punjab Cooperative Housing Society and the not-yet-approved Society of Builders and Developers wanted access to the road through the DHA. The bench comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Jawwad S Khawaja and Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday served the notice to determine who actually owned the land. The CJP remarked that the judiciary could not become a party to an illegal act and would strictly act according to the law and constitution. The appellate’s counsel, during the proceedings, pointed out that the societies adjacent to the DHA actually wanted to open these roads as it would be for great financial benefits. The bench, earlier on two dates, had directed the appellate and the respondents that it would be better for both the parties to sit together and resolve the issue.