Kingdom in the name of democracy, CJP remarks in Orange Line Train case

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court maintained that historical buildings and sites were our national heritage while hearing the Orange Line Train case.

A five-member bench headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali heard an appeal filed by the Punjab government over the Orange Line train on Thursday.

During the proceedings Chief Justice Jamali cited a statement from an English judge who had said people should pay the price for electing wrong representatives, adding that people should make an informed decision when casting their vote.

The Chief Justice said that a kingdom has been established in the name of democracy.  

“The public is being fooled under the garb of democracy,” he said.

He asked the public to stand together against undemocratic measures and elect their representatives wisely.

Justice Azmat Saeed said that historical buildings were our national heritage and the apex court would not tolerate its destruction.

The court expressed its displeasure when the petitioner’s lawyers tried to disrupt the court proceeding.

“This is not an individual’s problem, this is a public issue,” the Chief Justice said.

On August 19, the Lahore High Court (LHC) had barred provincial authorities from carrying out construction work within a distance of 200 feet of around 11 heritage sites including Shalimar Gardens, Gulabi Bagh Gateway, Chauburji, Buddhu ka Awa, Zebunnisa’s Tomb, Lakshmi Building, General Post Office, Aiwan-e-Auqaf, SC Lahore registry building, St. Andrews Presbyterian Church at Nabha Road and Baba Mauj Darya Bukhari’s Shrine.

The names of independent experts have been sought by the apex court to review the Orange Train Line reports and the case has been adjourned till Friday.