Commission to solve complaints of Sector E-12 residents

IHC stays allotment of plots in the area until the case is decided

ISLAMABAD: A high court on Tuesday ordered to set up a three-member commission to address the grievances of people affected by the construction of Sector E-12 in the federal capital.

This was directed by a single-member bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), comprising Chief Justice Athar Minallah while hearing the case.

During Tuesday’s hearing, Chief Justice Minallah noted that even though work on building the sector began in 1987-88 but those affected by its construction have not been paid over 30 years later.

Chief Justice Minallah further observed that the city’s master plan was destroyed.

During the proceedings, former finance minister and MNA from the federal capital Asad Umer said that the Capital Development Authority (CDA) had deliberately complicated the case by incorrectly explaining the court’s verdict to the public.

At this, CDA Chairman Amir Ali Ahmed said that he wanted to rebut the allegations made against him. Umer, though, clarified that he was talking about CDA as an institution and did not target anyone specifically.

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CJ Minallah, though, formed a three-member commission to resolve the problems of affectees. Umar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Capital Development Authority (CDA) Affairs Ali Nawaz Awan, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA from Islamabad Raja Khurram Nawaz. CDA Chairman Ahmed will serve as the secretary of the commission to resolve issues of residents of sector E-12.

The court directed the committee to present a report within a month and adjourned the case until May 9 while the court also stayed allotment of plots in the sector until the case is decided.

Teaching Bible in schools

The IHC on Tuesday directed to amend a petition calling for teaching the Bible as a subject to Christian students. The court directed the applicant to amend the petition so as to make the school administrations the respondent in the petition.

Advocate Yasir Chaudhry, who had filed the original petition, is expected to re-file the amended application tomorrow.

During Tuesday’s, IHC Chief Justice Minallah asked which schools are large numbers of Christian students enrolled in. At this, the lawyer replied that he did not know the names of such schools.

At this, CJ Minallah directed him to include specific schools as a party.

The petition had stated that Christian students in schools should be allowed to study the Bible as a subject instead of Islamiat as a compulsory subject during school.

The education ministry, ministry of religious affairs and others have been made as respondents in the original petition.

Another reference

The apex anti-corruption watchdog of the country has filed another reference against the former head of the top civic agency of the federal capital.

National Accountability Bureau (NAB) filed a reference in the accountability court against former CDA Chairman Kamran Lashari and CDA Planning Director General (DG) Sarwar Sindho.

The reference alleges that Lashari and others had caused losses worth millions of rupees to the national exchequer by allotting two acres of land in the Diplomatic Enclave for a shuttle service.

Accountability Judge Muhammad Bashir is expected to summon the suspects after scrutinizing the reference. 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 8^th, 2019.