SC chides govt over failure to remove encroachments at Margalla Hills

Top court judge tells federal minister to govern rather than sparring over politics

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) has censured the federal government over its failure to remove encroachments within the Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP) despite a ban imposed by the apex court in 2016.

Expressing displeasure over non-removal of encroachments from the area, apex court judge Justice Azmat Saeed Sheikh observed: “It seems that the federal government will call the army to remove encroachments as well.”

His remarks came during the hearing of a suo motu case regarding construction on the Margalla Hills in addition to illegal tree-felling by a two-member bench of the top court. “Tell us if the federal government cannot remove the encroachment,” Justice Sheikh told counsels for different federal departments. “If the government is not interested in removing the encroachment then pass the law to legalise the illegal construction,” he added.



Meanwhile, the SC judge came down hard on Minister of State for CADD Tariq Fazal Chaudhry saying the minister should spend more time governing than indulging in full-time politics. Later, the bench directed the minister to present a comprehensive plan before the apex court regarding the removal of encroachments within one week.

The SC had earlier this month expressed annoyance over trees felled and unchecked development within the MHNP in sheer violation of the ban imposed by the court last year.

Following the apex court’s directives, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has formally launched an inquiry into deforestation in the MHNP. The park has immense ecological significance and is a protected area. It had been established in April 1980 by the federal government to preserve the natural landscape and natural biodiversity around the capital. However, in 1999, CDA acquired the entire park.



While people were barred from altering the forest or from constructing in it, some areas of the park continue to face deforestation along with misuse of other natural resources, creeping human settlement, overgrazing and erosion.