Corruption case hearing: SC orders eviction of encroached PR land

Land occupied by govt, army; court seeks report in compliance of the order in two weeks.

ISLAMABAD:

The Supreme Court has issued directions for the eviction of land owned by Pakistan Railways, which has for decades been encroached upon by different government departments as well as the armed forces.

A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, directed the chief secretaries of all four provinces, as well as the secretaries of the interior and defence ministries, to suggest ways and take steps for the eviction of the land.

The court handed down these directions while hearing the Railways corruption case.

The chief justice also directed officials to ask the departments to pay rent against the occupied Railway lands. The court has sought a report in compliance of the order in two weeks.

In a report submitted to the Supreme Court, it was revealed that 5,377 acres, out of a total of 167,690 acres of land owned by the PR, was in the possession of different departments. Of this, a huge chunk of 607.25 acres is with the Pakistan Rangers, 161 acres with Frontier Corps Balochistan, and 92.65 acres with Pakistan Army.

The rest of the 4,516 acres of land is either with individuals or under the illegal occupation of government departments in Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Multan, Sukkur, Karachi and Quetta.

Railways officials informed the Supreme Court that, following court orders, a meeting was convened between the Railways and the Heavy Mechanical Complex (HMC) as well as with Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT). They said that experts of both the industries have offered their services for the rehabilitation of locomotives but sought time and assurances on payment for the work.

Railways Board Secretary Shafiqullah was directed to place the proposal before the Railways chairman for working out details and arranging finances. The court noted and observed that it was in the interest of the railways secretary to take initiative and convene a meeting as early as possible.  Shafiqullah said that out of a total of 494 locomotives, 221 will start working by January 10, 2012.  In addition, 15 more locomotives will be functional, provided Rs150 million were released to pay for duty and taxes.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 28^th, 2011.