The under-construction building of the US embassy. PHOTO: FILE
An application has been filed in the Supreme Court for early hearing of petition against the expansion of the US embassy in the Diplomatic Enclave, which has been pending since two years.
Lt Col (retd) Inamul Rahiem on Friday filed an application through his counsel Tariq Asad, in which he has expressed the apprehension that plans to extend the US embassy may pose a grave threat to the security and sovereignty of Pakistan.
The applicant stated that a mini city was being constructed in the US embassy with secret underground bunkers. “Construction work is already in full swing to construct a mini-America in the heart of Islamabad.” According to a press report, additional land acquired last year in the Diplomatic Enclave which cost Rs 1.7 billion has not been paid for and construction was started without first obtaining approval for the plan which has now been approved by the CDA. The plan should be scrutinised in the interest of the country, he requested.
Unsupervised construction of structures which can accommodate thousands of Americans poses a security threat to Pakistan. The US is not just expanding its embassy, it aims to set up a base in Islamabad, which could result in an increase in terror activities in the country. The permission for expansion was given by leaders who wanted to protect their properties and interests in the US and Europe”
Many multi-storey buildings for offices and residences are under construction including an eight-storey office building measuring 331,424.10 square feet, stated the application. “It is expedient to fix the petition for hearing to be decided on merit without further delay,” the applicant requested the court.
According to the norms set by UN charter, once the building is constructed or established Pakistan cannot interfere and object to the functioning of the US embassy,” a senior lawyer observed.
Pakistan Bar Council expressed its reservations over the expansion of the US embassy. Its executive body issued a statement last year, regretting that more than 10 petitions had been filed in the Supreme Court against the expansion but none had been fixed for hearing.
“After the expansion, the complex will have the capacity to accommodate more than 5,000 American personnel with all latest equipment in close proximity to the Red Zone which houses the Foreign Office, Prime Minister’s Secretariat, presidency, and other embassies.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 10th, 2014.
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Faisal Raza Abidi used to talk about this in his tv shows. glad someone files a petition on it.