Stay on bypass portion extended

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday extended a stay against the construction of work on a section of the multi-billion Bhara Kahu bypass project passing through the Quaid-e-Azam University (QAU) till November 21.

IHC judge Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb heard the petition of a professor of the Quaid e Azam University against the construction of the Bhara Kahu bypass on a land the university.

Additional Attorney General Barrister Munnawar Iqbal Dogal told the court that a cabinet committee has been formed to look into the matter under the Federal Minister of Law and Justice Sardar Ayaz Sadiq. Dogal presented the notification of the constitution of the said committee before the court.

Justice Miagul Hassan Aurangzeb remarked that the court will wait to hear from the committee.

The counsel for the petitioner Kashif Ali Malik appeared before the court.

The court observed that it hoped the committee finds a solution after listening to all parties.

On a query from the court, the counsel for the Capital Development Authority (CDA) said that a public hearing on the project has already been scheduled for November 18.

The court adjourned the hearing till November 21 until the results of the committee. Last month, IHC had issued a stay order, halting the construction work on a portion of the bypass project and had sought a reply from the federal government.

A professor of the QAU through his counsel has challenged the project in the IHC stating that the land on which the bypass was being built actually belonged to the university.

In its written order issued later, the IHC had said that “until the next date fixed only, no further construction activity shall be undertaken within the boundary wall of the QAU”.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 12^th, 2022.