PHOTO: AFP
The court observed that if the illegal activity of felling trees did not stop, the court may initiate contempt proceedings against the government officials responsible.
A three-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Amir Hani Muslim has sought report regarding tree cutting and stone crushing from the government over the plea of former Deputy Attorney General Dil Muhammad Alizai, who claimed trees in Islamabad, especially those in the Margalla Hills, were being chopped illegally. The bench had taken up a suo motu case regarding continued quarrying in the Margalla Hills National Park area in May last year.
Justice Mazhar Alim Miankhel said that stone crushing equipment was operating in the Margalla Hills area near Abbottabad. He asked how it was possible that government officials were unaware of the number of machines operating in the area.
The court directed the concerned government officials and department to provide details about total number of legal and illegal stone crushing units in the area.
Counsel for the stone crushers Aitzaz Ahsan, however, argued for lifting the ban on stone crushing in Margalla Hills. He said investors had sunk huge amounts in stone crushing, and after the imposition of bans, their investment would be lost. At this, Justice Amir Hani Muslim said people’s lives are at risk and they would not be left in lurch for the sake of small financial gains for a few people.
Justice Muslim also observed that the court preferred to ensure the safety of people, no matter how much had been invested by whom in stone crushing. The court later adjourned for two weeks.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 26th, 2017.
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