Orange Line Train case: Punjab govt gets green signal
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ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) has on Friday allowed the Punjab government to continue construction work of Orange Line Metro Train (OMT) project in Lahore.
A five-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan resumed hearing of the case. Justice Ijazul Hassan announced the verdict reserved in April this year.
Announcing the verdict, the court dismissed the judgment of Lahore High Court and accepted Punjab government’s appeal.
The apex court also set 31 conditions for the provincial government.
In its ruling, the top court ordered the provincial government to submit report in 30 days.
The court ordered the provincial government to ensure protection of 11 heritage sites and allocate a fund for the project.
Earlier, the LHC had banned the construction on both sides of 200 foot of the cultural heritages. The Punjab government had filed five petitions against the LHC verdict.
The court had stopped the government from construction work near eleven historical buildings on January 28 this year after holding the proceedings on the petitions.
These buildings include Chauburji, Saint Andrews Church, GPO building, tomb of Zeb-un-Nisa, Supreme Court Registry Branch, Aiwan-e-Auqaf, Shalimar Gardens, Budhu ka Awa, tomb of Baba Mauj Daria, Lakshami building , and Shah Chiragh Building.
The court had also annulled all the no-objection certificates (NOC) and the revised NOCs which were obtained for the construction of OLMT.
