The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday ordered the immediate release of a man from a mental rehabilitation centre after hearing a petition accusing his children of having forcibly admitted him to the facility to take over his property. Justice Farooq Haider passed the order while hearing a habeas corpus petition concerning Nasir Khan Daultana. Shadman police produced the man before the court.
Property Dispute Behind Forcible Admission
According to the petitioner's counsel, Daultana owns valuable commercial land in Luddan, District Vehari, and had entered into an agreement on June 19 to sell around eight acres for Rs280 million. The lawyer stated that after learning of the proposed sale, the owner's children portrayed him as mentally unstable due to a dispute over the remaining property. The court was informed that Daultana had already transferred nearly 80 acres of agricultural land to a son and three daughters. However, when he decided to sell the remaining property, the four children allegedly admitted him forcibly to the mental rehabilitation facility on June 28.
Petition Alleges Unlawful Confinement
The petition had maintained that Daultana was mentally fit and had been unlawfully confined at the centre. It had requested the court to recover him from the facility and order his immediate release. Justice Farooq Haider, after hearing the arguments, directed the authorities to release Daultana forthwith.
LHC Expresses Concern Over Heritage Buildings
In a separate matter, the LHC expressed concern over the commercial use of heritage buildings and illegal construction in Lahore's Walled City, directing authorities to submit a comprehensive report and development plan. The court also sought details of all heritage properties converted to commercial use before the approval of the area's master plan. Justice Malik Owais Khalid issued the directions while hearing a petition filed by a citizen, Zeeshan Farooq.
Authorities Directed to Submit Report
In compliance with the court's orders, the Lahore deputy commissioner, SSP and Walled City Authority operations director appeared in the hearing. The court asked about the findings of a committee constituted to examine illegal construction activities in the Walled City. It observed that a complete assessment of both residential and commercial buildings should first be carried out and directed the authorities to submit a detailed plan in the next hearing.
The petitioner's counsel Khalid Jamil advocate argued that illegal construction was continuing within the jurisdiction of the Walled City Authority and alleged that officials were violating the law they were responsible for enforcing. He submitted that permission was being granted for the construction of eight-storey buildings and illegal construction had continued despite the court's restraining orders.
Next Hearing Scheduled for September 14
The court directed the authorities to disclose how many buildings had been declared commercial before the master plan was prepared and to submit complete details of residential and commercial properties along with a comprehensive report by September 14.
