SC orders closure of marriage halls on CAA land

KARACHI:

The Supreme Court has ordered the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) director general to immediately close the wedding halls built on the lands of airports across the country.

A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Qazi Muhammad Amin Ahmed, on Tuesday heard the CAA land case at the Supreme Court Karachi Registry The CAA DG and other officials were in attendance.

The court sought a report on the Federal Investigation Agency's plot allotment and a progress report from the Board of Revenue chairman and CAA DG and others at the next hearing.

Chief Justice Gulzar remarked that marriage halls and plots within the airport limits are not acceptable. “You can’t even build an airport but are trying to run marriage halls,” the CJP remarked.

"What are you doing with the land you already have?"

The CAA DG replied that the master plan was being implemented.

The CJP said, “You people are running marriage halls?”

The DG replied, “We are allowed under the act for business.”

An irked chief justice said, "Leave the airports and run marriage halls. Leave your primary responsibility and do business. Look at the airport which has turned into ruins.”

The DG replied that there are 70 to 80 daily flights at the Karachi airport.

The court remarked that the CAA should do what it is supposed to do on its land.

Justice Ahmed said, "Does the Civil Aviation run marriage halls in the world … then open a nightclub and a casino as well."

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Justice Ahmed remarked, “Are there any wedding halls at Hitherto Airport? Have you visited Dubai and Qatar airports?”

The court asked the senior Board of Revenue member under which law the land was allotted. The senior BoR member said the second survey had taken place, but the CAA was not signing it.

The CAA counsel argued that the 209 acres of CAA land was being illegally allotted. The Sindh government is constructing new plots on these lands. "We have been allotted the land legally," the counsel said.

Justice Ahmed remarked, “How can the Sindh government give you federal land?

The DG Civil Aviation said, “We got the land in 1992. Our land is being reduced by the Sindh Revenue Board. We have received confirmation from the FIA that the allotment letter we are showing is fake.”

The chief justice remarked that the land of the airport would be used only for the purpose of the airport.

The CJ remarked that marriage halls and plots within the airport limits are not acceptable.

At the next hearing, the FIA DG will appear in court and report the situation. The FIA should give its finding on the allotment of 209 acres of land near the airport. After giving land to the federation, the provincial jurisdiction ends.

The CJ directed the CAA DG to immediately close the marriage halls built on the lands of airports across the country and submit a report to the court.