LAHORE - The Lahore High Court on Monday directed the Punjab Communication & Works Department and inspector general of Punjab Police to submit replies to a petition challenging construction of CIA Investigation Complex in the residential locality of Old Anarkali.

Justice Sajid Mahmood Sethi passed the order on a petition moved by residents of Old Anarkali, including Khurshid Alam and Mehboob Munawar.

The petitioners said that investigation complex was a sensitive installation and it would put lives of the locals in danger. They said past was witness that a number of attacks were carried out on buildings of law enforcement agencies that resulted in loss of lives and properties. They said that residents of this area were already living in miserable conditions due to extraordinary security measures for the nearby office of the Inspector General of Punjab Police and construction of a multi-storey CIA Complex on Rabbani Road (Old Anarkali) would obviously entail similar security arrangements. This will make lives of the locals a living hell.  They said the land in question had been previously used for single-storey residences of police officers. They prayed to the court to stop the authorities from constructing the investigation complex keeping in view the fact that it was a purely residential area with a number of schools. The complex would peril lives of residents at peril and jeopardise the security of the entire area.

A government law officer opposed the petition arguing that the petitioners could file a departmental representation before the authority concerned. The judge, after hearing both sides, issued notices to the respondents and adjourned the proceedings until Nov 1.

MODEL TOWN CASE

The LHC on Monday asked the Punjab government’s lawyer to argue on the intra court appeal challenging decision of a single bench regarding publication of Model Town inquiry report. The proceedings adjourned for Tuesday (today).

LHC issues notice to govt in free education case

A Lahore High Court full bench on Monday issued a notice to the federal and provincial governments for Nov 13 on a petition seeking directives for the authorities concerned to provide free education up to elementary level in all private and public schools.

The bench headed by Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh passed the order on a petition moved by lawyer Azhar Siddique. AK Dogar appeared on behalf of the petitioner and challenged “The Punjab Private Educational Institutions (Promotions & Regulations) Act, 2017”.

The lawyer said that parents must be penalised if they neglect sending their children to schools. He submitted that under Article 25 A of the Constitution education was identified as one of the fundamental rights of people and the state was bound to provide free education to all children aged five to sixteen in such a manner as determined by law.

He argued that under Article 3 of the Constitution, the state was bound to ensure elimination of all kinds of exploitation. He pointed out that private schools had been charging parents exorbitant fees and exploiting them in the name of education.

Siddique said that education in Islam is a religious duty as Holy Quran and Sunnah have declared basic education compulsory for every Muslim.