LHC Halts Punjab Action in Ewing Hall Takeover Dispute

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday stopped the Punjab government from taking any further step over Ewing Hall, an 11.5-kanal property linked to Forman Christian College University, after a dispute over the building’s control and lease status reached the court.

The order was issued by Justice Ahmad Nadeem Arshad on a petition filed by the FCCU registrar. The case has attracted public attention because Ewing Hall is located in Lahore’s historic Neela Gumbad and New Anarkali area and is viewed by alumni and heritage advocates as an important educational and architectural landmark.

The controversy escalated earlier this month when activists and former students raised concern over the government’s alleged repossession of the building. They argued that the action could endanger a structure tied to the city’s academic history, while the Punjab government maintained that the lease had expired and dues had not been paid for a long period.

During the hearing, the university’s counsel argued that the Board of Revenue’s decision to cancel the lease was unlawful and that the government had taken possession of the land on June 11. The petitioner asked the court to restore the institution’s control over the property and stop any further government action until the dispute is finally decided.

The lawyer informed the court that the land had originally been leased to the college in 1915 and that the lease was later extended in 2018 until 2048. This argument became central to the university’s position that the government could not treat the property as if no valid arrangement existed.

Punjab’s law officer opposed the petition and questioned whether it was maintainable. He argued that the college administration had not deposited lease payments since 1975 and that the land, originally meant for educational purposes, was being used for commercial activity.

Justice Arshad observed that if the government wanted to recover lease rent, it should have issued a proper notice before moving ahead with action. After hearing both sides, the court suspended the operation of the Board of Revenue’s decision cancelling the lease.

The court also directed the Punjab government to submit a detailed report and restrained it from moving further in the matter until the next hearing. The order gives the university temporary relief while leaving the broader questions of lease validity, dues and property use to be examined in subsequent proceedings.

The case has wider significance for Lahore because disputes involving old educational and heritage buildings often raise concerns about preservation, institutional rights and public land management. Ewing Hall’s location in the historic heart of the city adds further sensitivity to the matter.

The next stage will depend on the government’s report and the court’s review of documentary records related to the lease, rent payments and official possession. Until then, the Punjab administration has been legally stopped from taking fresh action over the disputed property.