Pakistan

Land use violations Shift govt offices from houses: SC

Bench directs federation to remove its own violations, file compliance report in June

Hasnaat Malik May 05, 2016

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ISLAMABAD: The apex court has ordered the federal government to vacate residential units in Islamabad which are being used as government offices.

A three-member bench headed by Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed resumed hearings in a suo motu case regarding blockades and encroachments, installed under the pretext of security, in residential areas of Islamabad.

At the onset of proceedings, Additional Advocate General Amir Rehman submitted that the prime minister has given a deadline of May 31 for vacating government offices situated in residential areas.

Justice Azmat asked under what law the prime minister had set the May 31 deadline. The AAG clarified that the PM had issued directions through his office for government departments to vacate residential units by May 31. The judge said that they would not tolerate non-compliance with this order, adding that everyone has to follow the law.

Rehman informed that the offices of the inspectors general of the Islamabad and motorway police have already been shifted from residential areas. Justice Azmat said that funds should be release on priority basis for the construction of IGs offices.

Aslam Khaki, representing some petitioners, told the court that a major roadway has been completely blocked due to security arrangements around Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Headquarters.

Shahid Hamid, representing the Capital Development Authority (CDA), submitted a list of 45 houses which are being used as government offices by various bodies.

The bodies include the ministries of interior, information, petroleum, and law, the Federal Board of Revenue, NADRA, Pakistan Post, and Pakistan Railways.

Interestingly, 14 of the 45 the CDA are only identified as ‘government office’, because, CDA officials told The Express Tribune, they are being used by ‘sensitive’ departments.

The report also identifies 44 houses being used by foreign missions, embassies and international non-government organizations (NGOS).

Likewise, the report revealed that plots have been allotted to a number of these foreign missions in the Diplomatic Enclave but they are still operating in residential areas. The report, however, stated that no plots have been allotted in the enclave for official residences of Cuban and Yemen ambassadors, so both envoys continue living in residential areas.

The report also submitted that the embassies of South Africa, Turkmenistan Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Vietnam and Algeria are operating from residential units as no land has been allotted to them either.

The CDA lawyer told the court that notices have been issued to the owners of houses rented to diplomatic missions and that the issue has also been raised with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The court later adjourned the hearing till first week of June while directing the federal government to submit a compliance report regarding the vacation of government offices from residential areas in the federal capital.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 6^th, 2016.

COMMENTS (1)

Sodomite | 8 years ago | Reply Can SC also look into the proliferation of private schools being operated in residential areas. I am all for education but schools need facilities for children like playing grounds etc., that are all missing from such schools. Under prevailing conditions, anyone can open a school without compliance with Min of Education and residential zoning laws. They are also exempt from income tax. If I were a businessman I too would open schools - its free for all as Govt has abdicated its responsibility to building law abiding children. No wonder we have chaos all around us.

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