LAHORE, May 20: The Lahore High Court on Friday sought a report from the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) about cutting of trees from a green belt in Shadbagh Scheme-II area after Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) denied having any role in the matter.

PHA counsel Ziaur Rehman informed the court that it was not setting up any food street in the area by removing green belt or trees rather it promoted plantation and protected existing trees. He said there were at least 400 trees in the subject area and the authority had no plan to cut even one of them or setting up a food street.

At this petitioner’s counsel told the court that after the stance taken by the PHA it became necessary to seek replies from the provincial government and city district government.

Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed directed the LDA to file its report by May 27 and also extended stay against removing of green belt and cutting the trees to set up a food street.

An ex-Naib Nazim of the area Hafiz Moen Ahmad filed the petition and challenged the setting up of food street after removing green belt.

engineer’s transfer:  The Lahore High Court Chief Justice on Friday sought comments from the ministry of housing and works secretary and PWD director general on a writ petition of a woman executive engineer, who challenged her frequent transfer/posting.

Mrs Humera Khurram Khan said she had been treated as a rolling stone and had not been allowed to function because of the whims of higher authorities of the ministry.

The petitioner said she was promoted as executive engineer on Dec 22, 2010 and posted at central civil division No. III, PWD, Lahore following her posting order issued on April 13, 2011.

Mrs. Khan said she was to replace Zubair Ahmad, but he managed to withdraw her notification of posting. She complained to the authorities concerned and after the agitation her posting order was again issued on April 21 and the respondent Zubair Ahmad was directed to report to Islamabad.

Finally she assumed the charge on April 22 but to her utter surprise the respondent Zubair was again assigned back on May 16 and she was ordered to vacate the seat .

She said she was the only woman who got promotion as executive engineer and having an unblemished record of service.

She prayed that the impugned order of May 16 be set aside and she be allowed to assume the charge.

After the hearing the contention, the Chief Justice Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry observed that prima facie it was a case of colourful use of powers on political grounds.

The CJ directed the respondents to file their report and comments by June 3.