IHC refers Bhara Kahu bypass project matter to cabinet for resolution.

ISLAMABAD -- The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday referred the matter related to the construction of Bhara Kahu bypass to the federal cabinet, expecting it would resolve the controversy regarding use of Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) land after hearing the relevant stakeholders.

Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb of the IHC resumed the hearing of the petition filed by five QAU faculty members. Professors Dr Azizur Rehman, Ilhan Niaz and Aqeel Bukhari and associate professors Asif Ali and Amir Ali had filed the petition through their counsel Kashif Ali Malik advocate.

The petitioners contended before the court that the new alignment of the bypass would divide the university campus and the road would become a de facto border between its two sides. They pointed out that the project was started without the mandatory Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif laid the foundation stone of the Bhara Kahu bypass on Sept 30 and had directed the National Logistics Cell (NLC) to complete the project in three months.

Petitioners contend new alignment of bypass to divide QAU campus

The five-kilometre road, including one kilometre flyover, will start from the Murree Road near the Quaid-i-Azam University stop and culminate on the same road near the Jugi bus stop adjacent to the Punjab Cash and Carry, from where the flyover will start and then end outside the Bhara Kahu Bazaar towards Murree.

Justice Aurangzeb earlier last month had issued the stay order against the use of QAU land.

On Friday, the learned judge remarked that he had issued the restraining order with a heavy heart, as he wanted to...