Who is Aleem Khan? asks IHC’s chief justice

CJ Athar Minallah remarks is MPA so influential that state gave its land to housing society

ISLAMABAD:

The prevalence of land grabbing by members of the mafia is contributing to a rise in crime apart from eroding the writ of the state.

This was observed by Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah on Monday as he heard a case against the alleged encroachment of state land by a housing society being built by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) provincial minister Aleem Khan.

Pointing to a report by a sessions judge, Chief Justice Minallah said that it suggests that the crime rate in the capital is linked to illegal occupation by the land mafia.

While hearing the case, Chief Justice Minallah said there is an allegation that state land was given to a private society who proceeded to forcibly evict residents.

IHC asks who is impeding implementation of its orders

Why was permission given to build a road on state land just to benefit a private housing society, CJ Minallah asked.

Who owns the majority shares of the private society? he continued.

The lawyer for the petitioner said that the majority shareholder of the housing society was Aleem’s wife.

At this, the court asked who is Aleem Khan.

The lawyer responded by saying that he is a lawmaker of the PTI and a provincial minister. CJ Minallah remarked that is Aleem so influential that the state gave its land to private housing society for use. He asked should the matter be sent to the cabinet?

The lawyer of the private society contended that the CDA had only permitted them to build the road.

No action against oil marketing companies yet, IHC told​​​​​​​

CJ Minallah, however, asked how can CDA give state land? He continued that the CDA chairman had admitted that the board was at fault.

The court ruled that the stay order against the use of the land by the society will remain. Moreover, the court directed the IGP and chief commissioner to protect landowners. The court sought a detailed report from the CDA chairman and adjourned further hearings until August 13.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 4^th, 2020.