Clear encroachments from monuments, SC tells Punjab govt

* PAD accuses Auqaf Department and ETPB of malpractices

The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday directed the Punjab government to take action against 3,220 encroachers and land grabbers who have damaged historical monuments in Lahore, and sought a progress report on the issue from the provincial chief secretary within 12 weeks.

Punjab Archaeology Department (PAD) Director General Orya Maqbool Jan told the SC that 3,220 encroachments had been set up in and around 124 historical monuments in Lahore. He claimed that the Auqaf Department and the Evacuee Property Trust Board (EPTB) had leased or rented out land of historical monuments to various people illegally.

The SC bench consisting of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and justices Muhammad Nawaz Abbasi and Mian Shakirullah Jan was hearing the case, taken up suo moto on reports about the defacing of historical monuments and cultural heritage by land grabbers generally known as qabza groups. The PAD submitted a report with the SC, pointing out massive encroachments in Lahore.

The bench appreciated the department and ordered the chief secretary to form a committee for action against the encroachers. The bench also ruled that civil courts, if approached by the encroachers, should avoid issuing a unilateral stay order in any case and dispose of such cases expeditiously.

The PAD report showed that there were 231 encroachments around the Lahore Fort, 76 around Noor Jehan’s tomb and 105 around the Shalimar Gardens, while there were 394 illegal possessions around Jahangir’s tomb, Akbari Sarai, Asif Khan’s tomb and Shahdara. The report added that Masjid Wazir Khan – considered an archaeological masterpiece – has been affected with the presence of 64 commercial kiosks rented out by the Auqaf Department.

The PAD report said that there were massive encroachments around the famous gates of old Lahore – 58 illegal structures have been set up around Masti Gate; 101 around Bhaati Gate; 21 around Sheranwala Gate; 18 around Kashmiri Gate; 123 around Lohari Gate and 64 around Delhi Gate. Similarly, Shahi Hamam has 34 encroachments; Khawaja Ayyaz’s tomb 140; Sunehri Masjid 68; Masjid Saleh Muhammad 11 and Masjid Nila Gumbad has 71 encroachments, the report added.

The report also accused the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) and the Municipal Corporation of legalising the encroachments.