Punjab

Social activists get pre-arrest bail

GMT activists were booked on complaint of GDA

Zubair Ayub October 08, 2021

Jawwad said the provincial government had formed a committee to identify businesses being established in the locality instead of implementing the court order in its letter and spirit. PHOTO: FILE

ABBOTTABAD:

Additional Sessions Judge-VI Abbottabad Syed Mudassir Shah Tirimzi on Thursday granted pre-arrest bail to activists of Galliyat Tahafuz Movement (GTM) in a case pertaining to forcibly opening the gate of Ayubia chairlift and threatening the staff of the Galliyat Tahafuz Movement (GTM).

The Dungagali police had registered a criminal case against GTM activists including its president Sardar Sabir and the Ayubia chairlift contractor on a complaint the GDA chairman, who said that they entered the premises of the chairlift, forcibly opened the doors, threatened the GDA technical staff and instigated the locals against the authority.

The judge granted the pre-arrest ad-interim bail to all accused of surety bonds of Rs80,000 each.

The police had also booked a 13-year boy, Khyam Irfan, for uploading footage on social media against the GDA officials.

The GDA in the complaint had said that all the accused were liable to be booked under sections 3, 5 and 16 of MPO.

Read GDA gets notice over closure of Ayubia chairlift

In the complaint, the GDA contended that the contractor of the chairlift was repeatedly asked to provide a safety certificate, but he failed to do so and the authority had to close the operation of the chairlift.

Earlier, the Peshawar High Court circuit bench in Abbottabad maintained the status quo in the case regarding the closure of the chairlift. The GTM, a community-based social organisation, had contended that the long-term lease agreement made by GDA with M/s Monal Group for provision of 110 Kanal of land was unlawful and ultra vires to the provision of Forest Act, Wildlife Act, GDA Act and in conflict with fundamental rights of the locals. The GTM has also contended that 60 Kanal patch of land was falling under the jurisdiction of Ayubia National Park.

Similarly, the provincial forest department has termed the lease of land to a private company illegal and has asked the GDA to withdraw the agreement, fearing that the contractor will cut trees within the alignment of the project.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 8^th, 2021.