ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday ordered removal of illegal construction around the Bani Gala and Korang Nullah.
A three-member SC bench, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, resumed hearing in suo motu case regarding illegal constructions in Bani Gala, on an application of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan.
The chief justice directed that if the authorities concerned failed to frame relevant laws within two weeks, action would be taken against Minister of Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD).
The court directed registrar of Islamabad High Court to provide details of all pending cases in the Islamabad courts regarding illegal constructions along Nullah Korang.
During the course of hearing, Additional Attorney General Nayyar Rizvi informed the court that all buildings, which have been constructed in Bani Gala by March 30, 2018, would be regularised and the building which have constructed after this date would be razed.
In this respect, he informed the court that the Capital Development Authority (CDA) had prepared the draft for regularisation. He also claimed that the municipal corporation of the capital was responsible for constructing structures on the Korang Nullah whereas the Zone-1 magistrate said they would issue notices to those who had constructed illegal structures after which they would be demolished.
The CJ asked Babar Awan, counsel for Imran Khan, as to whether he was satisfied with the regularisation. Babar Awan replied that on the directions of the court, regularisation had been prepared by all the parties.
Justice Umar Atta Bandial, another member of the bench, observed that an eight-marla plot would be regularised only by paying Rs10 fine. “Is this not mockery (of the law)”, he questioned.
The law officer, however, clarified that it was per square feet fine. The chief justice remarked that in future there should be no illegal constructions. He said that the main objective of the court was to protect Nullah Korang and Bontanical Garden.
Meanwhile, the court summoned the record of pending cases of illegal construction in Botanical Garden. The chief justice directed the authorities concerned to finalise regularisation and the CDA laws in two week and get its approval. The court directed the Punjab government to summit sewerage report monthly.