Court orders CDA to seal kiosk in park
Muhammad Zaheer, listed as the owner on paper, directed to appear in person.
ISLAMABAD:
A judge on Friday directed the capital civic authorities to remove a kiosk set up in a public park illegally.
Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) directed the Mansoor Ali Khan, director of CDA’s Directorate of Municipal Administration, to seal Moon Star kiosk in Shalimar Park in posh F-7/3 sector allegedly owned by interior minister’s brother Khalid Malik.
On Thursday, some people beat up Vice-Admiral Ahmed Tasneem, the petitioner in the case, and Pakistan Muslim League-Q member of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly from Mansehra, Wajihuz Zaman.
The MPA accused Khalid’s guards of thrashing him and his brother when they tried to stop them from beating up the retired naval officer who initiated the case, while they were walking in Shalimar Park.
During the course of hearing, when Justice Siddiqui asked the CDA official that what action had been taken against the illegal kiosk, he claimed that the encroachment spreading over two kanals had been removed.
Justice Siddiqui expressed dissatisfaction over the answers provided to him related to the kiosk’s real owners and questioned who the kiosk was allotted to before Muhammad Zaheer.
In reply, the official said it was allotted to a woman. The justice asked, “Why do you hesitate to say this kiosk was owned by Khalid Malik’s wife, the interior minster’s sister-in-law?’’ Khan informed the court that the kiosk was allotted to Malik’s brother with the approval of then CDA chairman.
Zaheer’s counsel Munir Ahmed claimed his client was not connected to Khalid. He said CDA issued a letter by allotting the kiosk to his client in October 2010 and that it had been allotted to a woman earlier.
The court observed that “On the face of it the kiosk is in Zaheer’s name but it is actually run by Khalid Malik.’’
The court directed Zaheer to appear in person before the court and adjourned the case till November 5.
AIDS programme salary case
The judge sought a report from government officials in response to a contempt petition filed by employees of National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) seeking release of unpaid salaries.
Justice Siddiqui directed the secretaries of the finance, planning and development divisions to submit the report in three weeks and ensure that the salaries are paid within this period.
Earlier in January, the IHC had issued an order for regularisation of NACP employees, which was promptly implemented. All the employees received salaries till June, however afterward, according to the employees, “they are yet to receive a single penny”. A contempt petition was then filed in the IHC last month.
According to Naeem Akhtar, the coordinator, behaviour change communication for prevention of HIV/AIDS, the programme had been devolved to the provinces, but was later revived after donor agencies mounted pressure.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 3rd, 2012.
A judge on Friday directed the capital civic authorities to remove a kiosk set up in a public park illegally.
Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) directed the Mansoor Ali Khan, director of CDA’s Directorate of Municipal Administration, to seal Moon Star kiosk in Shalimar Park in posh F-7/3 sector allegedly owned by interior minister’s brother Khalid Malik.
On Thursday, some people beat up Vice-Admiral Ahmed Tasneem, the petitioner in the case, and Pakistan Muslim League-Q member of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly from Mansehra, Wajihuz Zaman.
The MPA accused Khalid’s guards of thrashing him and his brother when they tried to stop them from beating up the retired naval officer who initiated the case, while they were walking in Shalimar Park.
During the course of hearing, when Justice Siddiqui asked the CDA official that what action had been taken against the illegal kiosk, he claimed that the encroachment spreading over two kanals had been removed.
Justice Siddiqui expressed dissatisfaction over the answers provided to him related to the kiosk’s real owners and questioned who the kiosk was allotted to before Muhammad Zaheer.
In reply, the official said it was allotted to a woman. The justice asked, “Why do you hesitate to say this kiosk was owned by Khalid Malik’s wife, the interior minster’s sister-in-law?’’ Khan informed the court that the kiosk was allotted to Malik’s brother with the approval of then CDA chairman.
Zaheer’s counsel Munir Ahmed claimed his client was not connected to Khalid. He said CDA issued a letter by allotting the kiosk to his client in October 2010 and that it had been allotted to a woman earlier.
The court observed that “On the face of it the kiosk is in Zaheer’s name but it is actually run by Khalid Malik.’’
The court directed Zaheer to appear in person before the court and adjourned the case till November 5.
AIDS programme salary case
The judge sought a report from government officials in response to a contempt petition filed by employees of National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) seeking release of unpaid salaries.
Justice Siddiqui directed the secretaries of the finance, planning and development divisions to submit the report in three weeks and ensure that the salaries are paid within this period.
Earlier in January, the IHC had issued an order for regularisation of NACP employees, which was promptly implemented. All the employees received salaries till June, however afterward, according to the employees, “they are yet to receive a single penny”. A contempt petition was then filed in the IHC last month.
According to Naeem Akhtar, the coordinator, behaviour change communication for prevention of HIV/AIDS, the programme had been devolved to the provinces, but was later revived after donor agencies mounted pressure.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 3rd, 2012.