Protecting Margalla Hills: SC censures CDA for failure

Authority’s council says first ensure that construction is going on in buffer zone

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) has censured Capital Development Authority (CDA) for its failure to protect Margalla Hills where illegal construction and tree cutting activities are still going on unabatedly under the nose of civic body.

Two member bench headed by Justice Shaikh Azmat Saeed and Justice Sajjad Ali Shah on Wednesday, heard a suo motu case regarding construction on Margalla Hills besides illegal logging.

During the proceedings of the case Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Secretary Nargis Gillu, IG Punjab Police Arif Nawaz and Islamabad Mayor Anser Aziz appeared before the court.

“Every citizen is seeing disappearing buffer zone except CDA officials,” Justice Shaikh Azmat  Saeed observed and asked CADD Secretary that a case should be sent to FIA for investigation against CDA officials who were involved in the matter.

He maintained that large space was vacant in Adiala Jail.

CDA council said that first responsibility should be fixed before taking any action, at this Justice Saeed said that it was alleged that construction was being carried out in buffer zone.

The CDA council again said that it should be ensured first that in fact construction was being carried out in buffer zone. Justice Shah said that court had pictures showing boards inscribed with notices like plot for sale.

Justice Saeed observed that whether CDA wanted to say that protection of Margalla Hills was not the responsibility of authority and whether it should be asked from Italy and Germany that who was responsible for the protection of capital city of Pakistan.

At this CDA Director Planning Asad Mehboob Kiyani told the court that protection of Margalla Hills was the responsibility of CDA and authority had taken several initiatives to put a curb on illegal housing societies and to stop deforestation on Margalla Hills.

Justice Saeed while rejecting the CDA’s stance said that reply submitted by civic body was not acceptable for the court. Justice Saeed further said that the CDA officials will drag themselves in difficult situation if court will ask about the owners of the houses seen in the pictures.

When bench resumed hearing again after a short court interval, Justice Saeed observed that it seemed that CDA had stopped performing its duties.

“The law of state declare that stone crushing in Margalla Hills cannot be allowed, but the activity was being carried out a few miles away from here,” he said. If situation was so deplorable in federal capital, what would be the condition in rest of the country? He said.

“We will have to protect national heritage,” Justice Saeed observed adding that CDA should admit that it could not protect Margalla Hills and that it should handover protection of the Margalla Hills on a contract. He said it was not a loot property that everyone who wanted to could plunder it. “If CDA officials cannot do their jobs then they should open shops in Aabpara,” Justice Saeed observed sarcastically and warned that court knew how its orders could be got implemented.  The Court adjourned case related to CDA till October 26.

Matter of crush

Meanwhile, SC sought lease record land for crushing plants from Punjab government and summoned Advocate General Punjab to appear before the court at the next hearing of a suo moto case pertaining to deforestation and illegal mining in Margalla Hills.

During the hearing Punjab secretary mining supported mining in block close to populated areas. At this, Justice Saeed said that the law officer had assured the court on behalf of Punjab government that land would not be leased out for mining.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 19^th, 2017.