High Court refuses to legitimise illegal expropriation of land for sports stadium

High Court refuses to legitimise illegal expropriation of land for sports stadium

Imran successfully represented some landowners in the High Court whose land had been illegally expropriated by the Punjab Government for construction of a so-called sports stadium in Chakwal. Instead of following the due process for acquisition of land, the government officials simply made certain mutation entries in land record without consent of the landowners. The landowners successfully challenged this illegal expropriation of their land before the Civil Court. Government’s appeal to the District Judge failed. The government challenged decisions of the lower courts in the Lahore High Court, Rawalpindi Bench, and then delayed the matter on various flimsy excuses for almost ten years. However, eventually, on 09-01-2023, the High Court dismissed the governent’s petition despite government’s plea to further adjourn the matter.

It is of great concern, however, that almost all of the original landowners died during this long drawn out legal battle. The case was being pursued by the second generation. If the government appeals to the Supreme Court, the matter might drag on for years still.

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