LHC declares PM Imran Khan’s Ravi River Urban Project illegal
The Lahore High Court has declared the Ravi Urban Development Amendment Ordinance null and void, holding that the acquisition of land under section IV is illegal.
In his decision on the petitions against the Ravi River Urban Project that was launched by Prime Minister Imran Khan, Judge Shahid Karim ruled that plans without a master plan are illegal.
The court mentioned that agricultural land could only be acquired by following the relevant law and added that in this case, the 1894 law was violated. The RUDA master plan was drawn up without consulting the local administration.
In November last year, the court prevented the Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA) from acquiring more land for its flagship project until farmers challenged the 1894 Land Act.
Judge Karim commented that since the RRUDP master plan is the basic document, all schemes must be under the master plan.
Meanwhile, the court ordered the Authority to return the money it had obtained from the government within two months.
Petitions filed by Sheraz Zaka, Ahmad Rafay Alam and others on behalf of farmers questioned the manner and form of land acquisition procedures undertaken by the Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA), according to reports.
The project has faced criticism that it is leading to rampant land grabbing that could displace thousands of farmers in the region.
