SC summons CDA boss in swimming pool plot case

Top court says property allocated for amenity purposes could not be sold or leased

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) has stated that plots allocated for amenity purposes could not be sold or leased and ordered the Capital Development Authority (CDA) chairman to appear before the court in the next hearing.

A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed and comprising Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan and Justice Sajjad Ali Shah heard the case pertaining construction of an illegal plaza on an amenity plot meant for swimming pool on Monday. The court also sought the history and master plan of the community plot.

The court also asked the development authority to submit a detailed report comprising the historic background of the plot. The court remarked that if things go on like this, the day is not far when CDA would approve construction of a shopping plaza adjoining the SC building.

During the proceeding, the counsel of the plot owner said that his client had deposited some Rs40 million of Rs90 million of the imposed fine amount. He added that the remaining Rs50 million would be deposited within a week. Chief Justice inquired the real purpose for which the amenity plot was allocated.

Illegal agro-land use: Farm today, mansion tomorrow

The CDA lawyer responded that the plot was leased as a public swimming pool was to be built by the allottee. The court stated that why the allottee would build a swimming pool rather than resorting to earning money by constructing shops on the related plot. It added that it was the responsibility of the CDA to ensure the provision of facilities to the public on the community plot.

The CDA representative informed the court that earlier in 1992, the CDA board had approved the construction of shops on the related plot. At this, the court lamented if things go this way, they would be helpless if one day the development authority allowed the establishment of a shopping plaza on the land adjacent to the SC building.

The court added that the allottee had to pay Rs90 million in total, while the amount of Rs40 million which he had paid was donated in the dam fund. The bench stated that CDA could not lease or sell an amenity plot to any person for any commercial purposes and summoned CDA chairman and a detailed report from the development authority in the proceeding to be conducted after two weeks.

Rawal Lake poisoning case

An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Monday recorded the statement of Investigation Officer (IO) Muhammad Asjad in a case pertaining to mixing poison in Rawal Lake for catching fish.

The hearing was resumed by ATC judge Raja Jawad Abbas Hassan whereas the prosecution disclosed that IO Asjad, summoned for the day, was present in the court and pleaded for recording his statement.

Commercialisation of amenity plot, SC gives time to negotiate

The court later recorded the statement of IO and directed the defence counsel to ask any question regarding the statement.

Later the court summoned other witnesses for the next date of hearing which was fixed for March 9. Main accused Jahangir Abbasi along with four other accused, nominated in three FIRs, were present in the court.  All the accused are on bail in the matter. The Secretariat Police had registered three FIRs against the accused Jahangir Ahmed Abbasi and four others, allegedly involved in catching fish after mixing poison into the water of Rawal lake.

An FIR was registered on behalf of the contractor of fishing of Rawal Lake whereas two other FIRs were registered on behalf of fisheries department under terrorism clauses. The hearing was adjourned till March 9.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 3^rd, 2020.