LAHORE: Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar on Saturday directed the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) to immediately remove oversized billboards from cantonment and other areas of Lahore.

Earlier, Lahore Mayor retired Col Mubashir Javed appeared before the chief justice on a short notice.

When asked about no action taken against huge billboards in the city, the mayor said he had been waiting for the formation of new government. Javed said he belonged to a particular political party and there was a transition period.

However, Chief Justice Nisar observed that office of the mayor was a public office and had nothing to do with political set-up. The chief justice further observed that it was the responsibility of the mayor to keep the city clean.

He directed the mayor and the PHA to remove all oversized hoardings without any delay. He observed that the court could constitute an implementation bench on the matter like it did for Karachi if the authorities failed to remove the billboards.

Published in Dawn, August 26th, 2018