LAHORE, Jul 17 (APP): The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday restrained the authorities from demolishing shops in Sheikh Hindi Market, Bhati Gate, and issued notices to the Punjab government and the Punjab Enforcement and Regulatory Authority (PERA), seeking their responses.
Justice Khalid Ishaq passed the order while hearing petitions filed by Mian Waqar Saeed and other shopkeepers. Advocate Mian Irfan Akram represented the petitioners.
The petitioners’ counsel contended that the Para Force and the assistant commissioner had directed shopkeepers to vacate their premises for the demolition of shops in Sheikh Hindi Market. However, he argued that no written notice had been served, and the administration had merely issued verbal directions to vacate the shops.
He further stated that the shops are built on privately owned land and that the petitioners have been conducting business there for more than three decades. He maintained that the properties belong to the shopkeepers and are not government-owned.
He requested the court to restrain the authorities from demolishing or sealing the shops.
After hearing the arguments, the court ordered an immediate halt to the demolition and issued notices to the respondents, directing them to submit their replies.
