A Full Bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) has directed the authorities to wind up the construction of IMAX theatre at the site of Doongi Ground MM Alam Road, and keeping the basic status of the site as park and play ground, set up a library thereon.
The bench headed by Chief Justice Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry also directed the government not to build any commercial and business point on the site and that its primary objective of people utility, should be maintained.
It may be recalled that this court had stayed construction of the IMAX theatre in 2005 when it was found that the government functionaries at that time, were the share holders to develop the site into a shopping mall, multiple cinema house, theatre, hotel, gym etc. The petitioner, Muhammad Azhar Siddique questioning the conversion of the park and the ground into IMAX theatre, argued that the public would not only be deprived of a healthy site of park but would also face multiple problems of environment, traffic congestion, commercialisation and others to a great hazards to their lives.