Bani Gala properties: SC seeks complete lease record of land around Rawal Lake

Directs CDA to verify union council records for PTI chief’s house permission

ISLAMABAD: The apex court has sought complete details about land leased around the Rawal Lake.

The court also told the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to verify, within a week, records and permissions granted to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan for building his mansion in Bani Gala.



A three-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar, heard a suo motu case regarding illegal constructions and encroachments in Bani Gala Thursday.

During the hearing, the court directed the government to submit a report regarding measures taken to control growing population in the area.

Additional Attorney General Nayyar Rizvi said that they had checked Union Council records and found that Imran did not get approval for the construction of his house from 1999 to till date.

At this, the Chief Justice directed the CDA to verify union council records and submit a report by Monday.

Imran’s counsel, Babar Awan, presented permission documents for the Bani Gala house including a no-objection certificate (NOC) issued by the Bhara Kahu Union Council in 1990.  Moreover, the documents showed that Imran had paid the land purchasing fee in 2002 and submitted a layout for construction over 250 kanals. A permission certificate was secured in 2003.

The CJP directed Awan to have the records verified.

Meanwhile, CDA Member Planning Asad Mehboob Kiyani submitted a report regarding illegal constructions and encroachments in Bani Gala.



Kiyani was asked about the disposal of effluents and sewage generated by the population living across the Rawal Lake. He told the court that unfortunately, the effluents were still flowing into the lake. At this, the chief justice remarked that people living downstream were being supplied with polluted water. Kiyani reminded water in the lake was being treated by the Punjab government.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 23^rd, 2018.