Who allowed housing society to be built on land for road: IHC

CDA chairman tells court that NOC was issued during tenure of previous government

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday directed Capital Development Authority (CDA) to explain how did Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Aleem Khan got permission to develop housing society on land acquired by CDA to build a road.

IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah in a three-page written order told CDA and Aleem Khan to satisfy the court regarding the legal status of the land in question and convince the court that this case should not be sent to National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

CDA Chairman Amir Ali Ahmed told the court that the housing society was busy in construction on the land acquired by the authority with permission of CDA Board. He said there was a need to review the No-Objection Certificate (NOC) issued for Aleem Khan’s housing society.

IHC Chief Justice Minallah was presiding over a petition pertaining to registration of a criminal case against Aleem Khan’s private housing society for encroaching on the land acquired from local people by the government for building a road.

CDA chairman told the court that CDA Board had issued NOC to the society during the tenure of the previous government. At this, Minallah remarked, “I know that you personally did not issue the NOC however it is still wrong whoever did it.”

Ahmed pleaded the court to give him some time so that he could inform the court about the facts after scrutinising the matter. He added that the society was doing construction on the land as per the board’s decision issued earlier.

The court said that why the case of land occupation by an influential political figure shouldn’t be sent to the PM Imran Khan for investigation.

The counsel of the housing society Babar Awan said that they had confidence in the court however they should be heard in the first place. Chief Justice Minallah remarked that the locals of the area pleaded for registration of a first information report (FIR) against the politician however they would wait for CDA’s report. He added that the court trusted that CDA chairman inform them about the real facts regarding encroachment on the government’s land.

The court barred use of the disputed area until further orders and remarked that who and why gave the possession of the related land to a private entity. Minallah recalled that Premier Imran Khan had repeatedly maintained that there should be the supremacy of law. At this, Awan said that he was ready to withdraw from the case if the work was done during the tenure of the incumbent prime minister.

The judge said it was the duty of the government to ensure that illegal occupation of state lands was stopped.

Awan responded that the court should hear him too as he was one of the affectees to which the court remarked that the people across the country were affected with the same issue. Minallah said: “the affectees complain that if Grand Hayat Hotel could be regularised, their applications should be heard too.” The court adjourned the case until Friday.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 29^th, 2019.