RAWALPINDI, April 9: Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday issued notices to the commissioner Rawalpindi, director general Punjab Environment Protection Agency (PEPA) and the administrator of Auqaf department in a petition seeking initiation of contempt of court proceedings for not preserving heritage sites as ordered by the court.

LHC on March 2, 2012 restrained the authorities and the private companies from construction near the heritage sites and directed them to preserve the 450 sites in Rawalpindi division.

The petitioner Raja Saim Satti, through his counsel, adopted before the LHC Justice Ijaz Ahmed that the court orders had accordingly been intimated to the respondents but unfortunately they did not pay any heed to them.

He said the national heritage of esteemed value is being damaged because of negligence on part of the officials concerned.

They are also violating the court orders and should be punished for contempt of court, he said.

He pointed out that the commercialisation might swallow up the valuable heritage sites existing in different areas in Rawalpindi division including Ayub National Park, Shamshan Ghaat, Mankiyala Stupa, Rawat Fort, temples at Sagri and Bhoon, Kontrilla (Haveli) and Gulyana, Gujar Khan.

The court after hearing arguments summoned the respondents on Thursday and adjourned the matter.