Staff Reporter
The Punjab government on Monday agreed in the Lahore High Court (LHC) to pay Rs30.8 million to a woman years after her property was acquired for construction of a road.
The government will pay the said amount in the coming three days while also expressed its willingness to pay another amount of Rs9.2 million by July 15 next month.
Chief Justice LHC Qasim Khan while hearing a petition filed by a woman sought replies from the Punjab government regarding payment of her dues.
The CJP during the hearing remarked that the government acquired land owned by the woman, and constructed a road over it. However, it has yet to pay the dues to her.
“People are left helpless as they were not paid dues for
years despite their land being acquired by the government,” he said while warning to impose a fine of Rs100,000 per day in case of delay in payment from July 15. In a land-related case recently heard by the LHC, the high court sought an explanation from D.G. Lahore Development Authority over failing to regularize private housing societies.
“Political people get their societies approved from the LDA by exerting pressure,” Chief Justice Qasim Khan remarked while hearing the petition of a housing society.
The bench also objected to the LDA’s committee while questioning the presence of the finance secretary in the committee. “Six legislators are also members of the committee. It is not the domain of MPAs to decide which housing society should be approved,” the court remarked.
“This illegal money changes hands at the LDA office, which has played havoc with Lahore,” the court observed.
