Delayed Justice: Three decades on, second generation fighting to get back their land

One of the legal heirs of Plaza Cinema situated near the RCB’s offices, filed a civil suit in 1981

RAWALPINDI:


A decades-long legal battle is still raging against the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) for occupying a plaintiff’s land who died an elderly woman without getting justice.


Kaneez Saeeda, one of the legal heirs of Plaza Cinema situated near the RCB’s offices, filed a civil suit against the cantonment authorities in 1981, claiming she owned the four kanals adjacent to the cinema building.


RCB challenged the decision in her favour in the district court on the plea that they wanted to use the space for a parking lot and they were condemned unheard by the civil court.

The court upheld the civil court’s decision, following which RCB took the matter to the LHC, where it remained pending for 28 years. It was decided in Saeeda’s favour in 2011. The RCB filed an appeal against the LHC’s decision with the Supreme Court in February, which referred the case to the civil court for retrial.

Saeeda’s counsel, Samad Mehmood said her legal heirs were now fighting the case.

RCB legal adviser Mirza Rauf said the civil court had decided the case against RCB without giving them a fair chance.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 18th, 2012.
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