Conversion of recreational parks: LHC expresses displeasure over Punjab government failure to produce record

The Lahore High Court here Thursday expressed displeasure over Punjab government failure to produce relevant record in connection with the proposed conversion of recreational park of Lahore Press Club Housing Scheme into residential plots.
As proceedings started, a law officer on behalf of the Punjab government appeared before the court and sought adjournment on the plea that the law officer dealing with the instant was not available. The court, however, declined his request and asked him to present relevant record. The law officer took a new twist and said record was not available as all the government functionaries are busy in coping with dengue epidemic.
This irked the court and said," Should all the government business and courts stop functioning after the outbreak of dengue." The court remarked that "If the Punjab government does not have enough persons to run the government business it should recruit more persons", and added that case would not be adjourned for a longer period.
The court asked law officer to present relevant record by October 5, the next date of hearing. In January, The court through a stay order had restrained Punjab government from converting park into residential plots. A journalist Din Muhammad Dard had challenged the proposed conversion of park into residential area. He said re-planning of the scheme is based on mala fide as it would violate and destroy basic structure of housing scheme.
He pointed out that adjacent to existing housing scheme huge private land is lying vacant from which acquisition of 581 Kanals 16 marlas land had not only been proposed for phase-II of housing scheme but initial notification under section 4 of Land acquisition Act has also been issued in May 2007.