Peshawar Development Authority building. PHOTO: www.pda.gkp.pk
Anti-encroachment
The division bench of Justice Nisar Hussain and Musarrat Hilali, hearing a writ filed by Building Control Authority Director Khan Afzal Afridi, was told the petitioner was also chair of the plan approval committee. The petitioner’s counsel, Khalid Afridi, stated the committee was formed under the Building Regulation 1985. He said the petitioner launched an anti-encroachment operation from Hayatabad to Kohat Road.
“As chair of the committee, [Afzal] decided during a meeting to extend the drive to other parts of the city, but was told by a senior officer to halt the operation,” he said. Khalid added Afzal was made an officer on special duty after he refused to end the drive.
He pointed out a junior officer, Najibur Rahman, was then made chairman of the plan approval committee. The counsel argued members of the committee expressed reservations over Rahman’s appointment and informed the local government secretary about it, but no action had been taken so far.
He stated the PDA DG wanted to make a favourite the member of the committee, saying this was illegal. The counsel pointed out Afzal feared he might be transferred from Building Control Authority and requested the relevant authorities be restrained from taking action against him. The bench accepted the plea and restrained the PDA DG from taking action against the petitioner.
NAB restrained
The same bench also restrained NAB from arresting two former secretaries of the Workers Welfare Board and sought a reply from the bureau’s chairman by April 18. The bench also granted interim bail to applicants Shah Wali and Aizazur Rahman.
Hearing an application filed through Barrister Mudassir Ameer, the bench was told that NAB initiated an enquiry over an alleged illegal land acquisition scam. He said the applicants were former secretaries of the labour department with an additional charge of the Workers Welfare Board.
Ameer argued NAB issued notices to them and the petitioners feared they might be arrested if they appeared before an investigation officer. He informed the bench the suspects had been behind bars for six months in another case and were recently released on bail by the PHC. Ameer contended his clients had nothing to do with land purchase. He stated the former secretaries could not go out of the country and requested the bench restrain NAB from arresting them and grant them interim bail.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 1st, 2016.
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