SC suspends LHC's verdict nullifying Ravi Urban Development project

Islamabad: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday suspended the verdict of the Lahore High Court (LHC) nullifying the Ravi Urban Development project.

According to details, the Supreme Court took a petition seeking nullification of the Lahore High Court's verdict directing the concerned authorities to halt the Ravi Urban Development project.

The court gave the Punjab government a big relief, allowing it continue work on the project.

The court remarked that work could be continued on the lands whose payment has been made to the owners. "The court will review whether an intra-court appeal could be filed against the verdict or not. The case will be remanded to the LHC if it will be the intra-court appeal," it added.

Justice Ejazul Ahsan remarked that the Punjab government lawyers should not provide false information to court. "During the hearing, the LHC referred the American constitution while conditions in Pakistan and America are entirely different. The government lawyers are unable to understand the case and the nature of arguments," he added.

He observed that overall 18 applications were filed in the case. "Being not a party in an application does not make any difference. The Punjab government had presented its stance in the High Court," he added and directed the counsels not to go into the technical points and present the concrete points.

Justice Ejazul Ahsan remarked that as per record, the acquirement of the lands for the project had been challenged.

The advocate general could not reply when the court asked about the lacunae in the case.

Justice Mazahar Naqvi said that the housing societies' clash of interest is clear. He reprimanded the Punjab government legal team for not preparing the case.

The additional advocate general contended that the Punjab government is not the party in the case in which the verdict has been announced.

The court also issued notices to the parties on the government appeals.