LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Monday issued notices to the Punjab government and other departments on a petition challenging coal power plants being established in the province.

Justice Mamoon Rashid Sheikh was hearing petition of a citizen, Muneer Ahmad, and Judicial Activism Panel.

Representing the petitioner, Advocate Azhar Siddique argued that billion of rupees were being wasted on obsolete technology of coal power plants. He said the plants would create serious environment hazards while coal power plants at Gaddani had already been cancelled due to environmental impacts. He said contracts to favouritepartieshadbeenawarded without tenders, merit and transparency in Punjab.

The counsel argued that as a direct consequence of the damage caused by the construction and operation of the coal power pro-jects, residents of the nearby areas and environment would suffer from a severely depleted output, which would be significantly lower than the optimum levels it was expected to operate at.

An additional advocate general opposed the petition and said the petitioners had no locus standi to challenge the projects.

Justice Sheikh admitted the petition for regular hearing and issued notices to the provincial government, energy department, Punjab power development company, environment department as well as two Chinese companies who were establishing coal power plants at Sahiwal and Kot Addu.

The judge would resume hearing on Nov 24.

REPLY SOUGHT: The Lahore High Court on Monday issued a notice to the Election Commission of Pakistan on a petition challenging exhibition of tigers by the PML-N candidates during campaign for Erst phase of local government election held in Punjab.

The court was hearing petitionfiled by social worker Faryal Ali Gohar against exhibition of wild animals by certain people during public gatherings.

Advocate Waqas Mir, on behalf of the petitioner, argued that the ruling party candidates openly violated the election code of conduct by exhibiting wild cats/tigers during campaign.

He said the candidates also risked the lives of wild animals by exposing them to unnatural environment. The counsel said the wild life commission, made on the orders of the court, also failed to take effective steps for the protection of wild animals. He asked the court to take action against the individuals involved in violating ECP code and risking lives of wild animals.

Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah sought reply from the ECP by Nov 20.

PRISONERS IN FOREIGN JAILS: The Lahore High Court on Monday directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to apprise about its policy on the protection ofPakistanis imprisoned abroad.

The Justice Project Pakistan (JPP) filed the petition on behalf of families of some migrant workers imprisoned, especially in Gulf countries.

JPP counsel Sarah Belal said there was a serious lack of consular support and assistance by the Pakistan government to their citizens facing execution in Gulf countries. She said the constitutional duties of the government to uphold fundamental rights and protect the lives of its citizens were not limited to the geographic boundaries of the country.

She said out of the 8,597 Pakistanis imprisoned abroad, 4,209 were in the GCC countries alone.

A deputy attorney general told the court that the government provide d legal and financial assistance to the detainees.

Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah directed the law officer to apprise on the next hearing whether the ministry of foreign affairs had any consular policy on the matter.