LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Tuesday rejected an `outdated` report of Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) conducted for the construction of a multi-storey police investigation centre in residential area of OldAnarkali and directed the Punjab government`s law officer to submit alatestreportifithad[any].

Earlier, the government submitted report of the EIA conducted in 2010 for the project which was approved in 2017.

Representing residents of the area, Advocate Taffazul Haider Rizvi argued that under the law the life of the EIA was three years but the government was relying upon the report after seven years [unlawfully].

He further argued that the police department failed to present any law in support of its claim that it required no permission to makeconstruction anywhere.

Justice Sajid Mahmood Sethi reminded the law officer that the court would decide the case on next hearing in any case when he sought time to furnish more documents in support of the construction. The judge adjourned hearing till Dec 4.

Khurshid Alam and other residents of the area had filed a petition challenging the construction of the investigation complex, which they said, was a sensitive installation and amounted to putting the lives of the locals in danger.

They contended thatin the past terrorist attacks had taken place onbuildings of law enforcement agencies resulting in loss of life and property of citizens. They said the life of the residents of this area was already miserable due to extraordinary security measures taken for the nearby ofñce of Inspector General of Police, therefore, the construction of a multi-storey police complex at Rabbani Road (Old Anarl(ali) would obviously entail similar security arrangements and the life of the residents would become a living hell.

Theyasked the courttostopconstruction of the investigation complex keeping in view miseries of the residents.