At the hearing of a case regarding encroachments and environmental degradation in Bani Gala on Tuesday, Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar observed that Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Bani Gala residence will be the first to be regularised in the area.The bench directed the authorities concerned to set up a committee under the chairmanship of the interior secretary to ensure the regularisation of properties in Bani Gala. The committee will include Capital Development Authority (CDA) chairman and secretaries of the ministries of housing, local government and climate change and will submit its report in 10 days.
During the hearing, Additional Attorney General General Tariq Mahmood Khokar informed the bench about the findings of the report on contamination of Rawal Lake from sewage from 50 union councils and 59 housing societies. The chief justice responded that the court wanted to see the performance of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government on the matter, reminding the ruling party that it was among the petitioners, so now when it was in power, it should take up the issue at the earnest. Turning his attention to PM Imran Khan’s counsel Babar Awan, he asked, “What steps did you people take in the last 50 days?” Awan responded that “Shaheryar Afridi is looking over the matter these days”.
The chief justice then remarked that prime minister’s house will be the first to be regularised and this should not be taken as a political statement.” “After people know that the prime minister has paid penalty, then they will be asked to regularise their properties,” he said. The CJP ruled that no new constructions would be permitted in the area till the regularisation issue has been sorted.”
Justice Nisar also stated, “We want the water and environment to be clean as well and will look into the matter regarding contamination in Rawal Lake separately.” The hearing of the case was then adjourned till October 29.
Published in Daily Times, October 17th 2018.