Rawalpindi, Oct 19: Justice Mamoon Rashid Sheikh of the Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi bench on Friday directed the chief executive officer (CEO) Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) to clean Dhoke Syedan ground from debris and garbage within three days.

The LHC bench was hearing a petition, where the petitioner Anwar Dar, president of a local NGO had challenged the sale and construction of the land in Dhoke Syedan ground in violation of the stay orders of a LHC bench in April 2009.

In the above said petition, the petitioner had brought to the courts attention that the ground had become a dumping yard for garbage, creating unhygienic conditions for residents.

The LHC bench also directed the respondent, Punjab government, to submit its reply regarding status of the land.

The legal counsel for the petitioner argued that despite stay orders the ground had been filled with debris and garbage right in the middle of a thickly populated area. The CEO RCB and the military estate officer were responsible for the situation, the counsel argued.

He further said that the Punjab government is spending millions of rupees for the prevention of dengue fever but it had assigned this ground as a hatchery for the nourishment of dengue mosquitoes.

The court expressed its displeasure over the violation of stay orders and directed the RCB CEO to clean the ground within three days. The court further directed that no activity other than the cleanup operation could be done over this ground.