IHC irked over allotment of plots despite stay order

IHC Chief Justice Minallah says even NAB approvers getting plots in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD:

Islamabad High Court (IHC) expressed displeasure on the allotment of plots despite its stay order and directed the SAPM on CDA Affairs to compensate evicted people of different sectors.

The court also summoned detailed report on how and when the Capital Development Authority (CDA) acquired sectors.

The single-member bench of IHC comprising Chief Justice Athar Minallah heard the case pertaining to compensation to affectees of different sectors.

Chief justice told Special Assistant to PM on CDA Affairs Ali Nawaz Awaan that even the approvers of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) were awarded plots in the Capital. Chief Justice Minallah questioned why plots were allotted despite a stay order in place.

Minallah remarked that the plots could not be allotted to anyone until the last affected person received compensation money.

Awan assured the court that he would look into how many plots were allotted since the court’s stay. He informed the court that the affectees were also present in their meetings. The advisor said that NADRA was carrying out the balloting process of plots.

The court stated that there was no other place where the injustice was at such a level as in the Capital. The plots are being encroached upon, the crime rate is climbing and land grabbers with their armed goons were roaming free. Minallah asked who would be held responsible if a plot worth Rs20 million was sold for merely Rs0.2 million.

The court summoned a report on which sectors were occupied by whom. Awan said that the problems of Islamabad were in place since it was built.

The chief justice remarked there was a conflict of interest into the affairs. The revenue officer who acquired land for sector, also took plot in it, he said, adding that there was nothing in Islamabad other than conflicts of interests which the prime minister also talks about on different occasions.

The court told the adviser that being the executive, he could get people their basic rights. The hearing was adjourned until September 18.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 17^th, 2020.