Illegal construction: 500 agro-farms sans lease agreement, says AG

AG says proposals regarding agro-farm schemes have been forwarded to the PM for approval.

ISLAMABAD:

The government’s top lawyer on Thursday informed the Supreme Court that of the 502 agricultural farms in the federal capital, only two have a proper lease agreement.

Attorney General Munir A. Malik told the apex court that constructions on 500 agro-farms were made in violation of Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) laws.

Malik made the statement before a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry during the hearing of a case regarding illegal construction on agro-farms in the capital.

On August 29, the court had sought the government’s stance on the illegal use of agro-farms. The CDA, following an earlier order by the Supreme Court, had restored all farms to their original covered area: 2,250 square feet (sq ft).

But it was a massive, sudden fall from the 12,500 sq ft covered area the civic agency had earlier allowed the farm residents.

They claim CDA had allowed them to build covered areas but now it wants them to demolish them which is unfair.

Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed said only people in certain farm houses were demanding concession. He said it was beyond understanding that people residing on one side of the road were claiming concessions while people on the other side were not pursuing any concession.

The AG said proposals regarding agro-farm schemes have been forwarded to the PM for approval. He said he would inform the court about the details as soon as a reply is received from the premier. The court adjourned hearing of the case till September 30.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 13^th, 2013.