The Lahore High Court (LHC) has directed authorities to form a special investigation team to probe the recent tree-cutting activities at Nasir Bagh, raising questions about why the historic park was targeted for the project.

Justice Shahid Karim issued the directives while hearing petitions related to smog control.

A member of the Judicial Commission informed the court that the trees had been relocated with assistance from an NGO. The judge, however, expressed dissatisfaction, noting that 123 trees were reportedly “transplanted without the PHA even realising it” and that photographs received by the court indicated many trees had been cut.

He emphasized that tree-cutting must stop immediately, stating, “This cannot go on.”