GUJRAT: A private company set up its cattle market here on Saturday despite court orders issued against it on Nov 9.

Justice Mamoon Rasheed Sheikh of the Lahore High Court (LHC) had granted a stay order against setting up of a private cattle market in front of a public park near Kathala and Ghazi Chak areas in the outskirts of the city.The LHC had issued the stay order in response to a writ petition filed by Syed Manzoor Husain Shah who objected to holding a private cattle market at the camping ground in violation of the Punjab local government law 2013 under which only the Gujranwala Cattle Market Management Company (CMMC) could hold such a market across the division.

The next hearing was fixed for Dec 4.

Retired Col Shahzad, managingdirector of the CMMC, told Dawn workers of the private cattle market on Saturday consistently disrupted trucks carrying animals particularly along GT Road bypass near Shaheen Chowk flyover from proceeding towards the official cattle market in Saroki. But market management company officials with the help of police rescued the trucks and ensured they proceeded.

He said he held a meeting with DPO Jahanzeb Khan to seek policehelp to stop attempts to disrupt the official cattle market, adding that Khan assured him of complete cooperation.

Residents of Kathala, Ghazi Chak and River Garden also staged a demonstration along GT road against the private cattle market.

Some residents of Kathala Kampala and Ghazi Chak also got a stay order against the cattle market from a local civil court till the next date of hearing, which was fixed for Monday (tomorrow).