Rawalpindi Cantonment Board Faces Legal Threat Over Dhoke Syedan Ground Violation
Dhoke Syedan Ground: Legal Action Threatened Against Rawalpindi Cantonment Board for Violating High Court Orders
Rawalpindi: Rawalpindi Cantonment Board is facing serious legal heat over alleged violations of Lahore High Court orders concerning Dhoke Syedan Ground, where public land reserved for graveyard and community use is reportedly being misused for unauthorized construction and illegal dumping. Legal notices issued by Inam & Associates on behalf of Advocate Muhammad Anwar Dar have warned of contempt of court proceedings if the encroachments are not immediately removed.
The legal communication addresses the Chief Executive Officer of the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board, highlighting that multiple orders from the Lahore High Court Rawalpindi Bench—including those dated 19-10-12, 19-06-17, 23-07-15, and 17-01-23—explicitly directed the removal of trash, illegal structures, and encroachments from the land measuring 108 Kanals and 7 Marlas. These orders also affirmed the site’s designation for public facilities such as a hospital and park.
Despite repeated directives, the notices state that the Cantonment Board has allowed the area to once again become a garbage dumping site. In a particularly serious breach, the boundary wall around Dhoke Syedan Ground, constructed to protect the land, has allegedly been demolished—resulting in what the notice describes as “huge financial loss to the public exchequer.”
Additionally, the client, through his attorney Inam-ul-Rahiem, reminded the Cantonment Board that ongoing digging and the construction of khokhas (roadside stalls), houses, and shops on land belonging to the Auqaf Department directly violates court orders. A contempt petition (No. 122/2017) was filed earlier by the client to halt such illegal activities and restore the land to its original condition.
The lawyer warned that any further delay in stopping the excavation, removing the encroachments, and repairing the boundary wall would compel the client to initiate contempt of court proceedings at the violators’ own risk and cost.
The documents present a compelling case of judicial non-compliance, raising alarms about administrative neglect and possible collusion in land misuse in the heart of Rawalpindi. Legal experts anticipate the matter may escalate unless urgent action is taken by the authorities to comply with the High Court’s rulings.
