ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday declared Ravi Riverfront Urban (RRUDP) as legal after suspending the Lahore High Court’s (LHC) January 25 order.

The apex court bench headed by Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan conducted the hearing.

During the hearing the apex court allowed the Punjab government to resume construction work on the project and issued notices to respondents to file their response to the Punjab government’s appeal through which it challenged the LHC order.

The Supreme Court ordered to continue work on lands whose owners have been paid compensation. The bench further remarked that it would determine whether an intra-court appeal could be filed against the LHC order or not and if so, it would send the case back to the high court for rehearing.

On Jan 25, the Lahore High Court (LHC) declared the procurement of land under section [iv] as unlawful in its decision on petitions against Ravi River Urban Project. The high court bench ruled that the schemes without master plan are unlawful and declared the section [iv] notification as void.

The court order said that agricultural lands can be procured under a legal procedure. The court declared the Amended ordinance against Article 120 of the constitution. The environmental laws have been ignored in the Ravi River Urban Project.

The bench further said that the loans for the project have been borrowed illegally. The court also ordered setting environmental standards for the project.