07-18-2009, 05:19 AM
LAHORE: Justice Ali Akbar Qureshi of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday dismissed 12 identical petitions challenging an anti-encroachment drive in the Miani Sahib Graveyard locality. Earlier on June 19, the judge had directed the Lahore district coordination officer (DCO) to remove all encroachments from the Miani Sahib Graveyard within 45 days. As the DCO started the action, some of the evacuated challenged the drive. The petitioners’ counsel submitted the petitioners had purchased houses and shops through lawful deeds after checking the record from all the departments concerned. He alleged the City District Government Lahore, without issuing any show cause notice, started removing the petitioners’ properties. The counsel requested the court to stop the respondents from demolishing the petitioners’ properties by declaring them lawful residents of the subject locality. Earlier, the petitioners had obtained a stay order against the demolition of their properties from the court of Justice Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry. Later, it transpired that the main case was pending before the court of Justice Qureshi on which the petitions were transferred to his court. Justice Qureshi on Friday dismissed them and sought a comprehensive reply from the DCO. The next hearing of the main petition against illegal possession of the graveyard land will be held on August 12. staff report
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