Thread by @FhdMalik

Thread

For context: Certain residents of Sheikhupura received notices under Sections 9/10 of the Land Acquisition Act that an award is being finalised for acquisition of their land by RUDA for the Ravi Project. Such a notice can only be issued if...

https://twitter.com/aimaMK/status/1366684760328798214

a section 5 notice has already been issued and the land owners are afforded a 30 day period to provide objections to such acquisition under Section 5-A of the Act. It is only after recording objections under 5-A, and accepting or rejecting such objections with cogent reasons,...

that a Section 6 notice can be issued declaring the land is being acquired. The notice that has appeared under Section 9/10 of the Act claims that the above process has been completed, which, according to the land owners, is false and that RUDA has backdated paperwork for this...

the major issue is that once a Section 6 notice is issued, as is alleged by RUDA that one was on 15.02.2021, there is no mechanism to allow any objections to be raised to the acquisition. The section 9/10 notice only allows landowners to contest compensation & measurements...

Therefore, the anger of the landowners/farmers stems from the fact that record is being falsified in order to ensure that no one gets an opportunity to object to the acquisition itself, and claims are restricted to compensation and measurements. Their rights are being bulldozed..

Apropos to the Section 9/10 notice, the landowners and farmers claim that the same is in violation of the law itself as well. The Section 9/10 notice has to be issued at least 15 days before a hearing there on. The said notice appeared in newspapers on 26.02.2021...

While the hearing thereon was scheduled on 02.03.2021, which is clearly contrary to legal requirements. To cover this oversight, the landowners/farmers claim that backdated notices dated 16.02.2021 have been served on individuals on 01.02.2021 which cannot be condoned.

All of the above needs to also be reviewed in light of the fact that the Lahore High Court in multiple proceedings has stopped the process of EIA approval for the project. A project cannot “commence” till such time an EIA approval is granted.

Given the fact that the project cannot commence, land acquisition can also not take place since no project exists till an EIA approval is granted under Section 12 of PEPA, which process is currently stayed. The landowners/farmers deem the acquisition as a contempt of LHC orders.

Before anyone starts blaming the landowners/farmers, their anger and grievances need to be viewed in the above context.

Some reference material: public notice in newspapers (26.02.2021)

Ostensibly backdated notices to individuals:

Some news reports:
Stay by Shahid Karim, J: thenews.com.pk/amp/768511-lhc…

Stay by Shams Mehmood Mirza, J:
thenews.com.pk/amp/792339-epa…

Stay by Ali Baqar Najfi, J: