25 trees felled at Chakwal civil club amid alleged violation of LHC order

Flouting an order of the Lahore High Court, the district administration has cut down two dozen trees in the premises

CHAKWAL:  Flouting an order of the Lahore High Court, the district administration has cut down two dozen trees in the premises of the historic Civil Club Chakwal and started construction work for a proposed food court.

The move has raised eyebrows as the LHC had directed the administration in April last to maintain status quo during the hearing of a petition filed by the club president against sealing of the facility.

The district administration had sealed the club on April 22, throwing its furniture and other articles out of rooms, as it wanted to convert the premises into a food court and parking space. The move had left the club members in shock.

While the matter is still sub judice, the Chakwal administration floated a tender in an Urdu daily on Sept 30, inviting bids for installation of a container (cabin cafes) at a cost of Rs16.4 million and started construction work after cutting down the trees.

President of the Civil Club Asad Masood filed a contempt application through his counsel Advocate Hassan Raza Pasha and Advocate Wajih Hassan on Oct 15 before the LHC.

The petitioner stated that the writ regarding the disputed property was pending adjudication before the LHC Rawalpindi Bench, wherein the court had passed a status quo order on April 28, 2026, which was extended on each date of hearing till July 8, 2026. He added that despite the court order, a tender notice was published on Sept 30 for installation of a container (cafe cabin) for a canteen at a food court in the name of MC Chakwal, without mentioning that the property belongs to Civil Club Chakwal.

The petition further alleged that on Oct 12, the respondents started digging inside the under construction gym premises of the club and on Oct 13, uprooted a large number of trees in violation of the status quo order.

The uprooted trees and plants include two moringa trees, two pomegranate trees, two olive trees, two lemon plants, one black plum tree, two orange plants, two loquat trees, five amaltas trees, one banyan tree, two jasmine plants, two Arabian Jasmine plants and two bakain trees.

The petitioner stated that the respondents were now dumping construction material through tractor-trolleys and there was strong apprehension that they would start construction on the tennis court for a food court.

The applicant also referred to comments filed by the Secretary Local Government in the main writ petition, wherein it was stated that the property in dispute was not owned by the local government but by the provincial government, therefore the MC had no right to raise any construction.

The court has summoned the Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) and Chief Officer MC, on Oct 20.

“The slaughter of 25 mature trees is a highly condemnable act by the district administration,” Advocate Hassan Raza Pasha said while talking to Minute Mirror. He termed the cutting of trees a grave act of environmental destruction. “Mature trees are living assets that provide shade, improve air quality, and sustain the ecological balance. Their loss cannot be compensated for by planting saplings overnight,” he maintained.

When contacted, Additional Deputy Commissioner General Bilal Bin Hafeez told Correspondent that only four trees were to be cut down. “We have started an inquiry into the cutting of the trees and strict action will be taken against those who committed this blunder.”

Replying to a question regarding the stay order, he said the food court and service centre would be built on the land of the local government, not on the land of the club.

“We have referred the club building to the Assets Management Company in Lahore for its auction,” he maintained, adding that a detailed response would be submitted before the court.