Has mafia bribed Federal, Punjab, KP govts, asks SC

Margalla Hills’ deforestation

Justice Azmat Saeed directs law officers to submit in writing all
three govts have failed to implement court orders; seeks comprehensive report on concrete steps taken for protection of hills

ISLAMABAD: Rejecting the federal government’s report on illegal deforestation and quarrying of stones in the Margalla Hills, the Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the law officers if the federal, Punjab and KP governments had taken kickbacks from the mafia to win elections.

A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed, resumed hearing of a suo moto case concerning illegal deforestation and quarrying stones.“Submit in writing that all the three helpless governments have failed to implement court orders”, Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed asked the law officers.

He said all the three governments had been held hostage by the mafia.The bench sought a comprehensive report on the concrete steps taken for protection of Margalla Hills.

The court also directed the government to file a report on the steps being taken against negligent officials and deforestation mafia.Former Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali had taken cognizance of illegal stones’ quarrying and deforestation after taking notice of a May 19 television talk show on limestone quarrying and feeding cement factories in the area by a mafia.

The talk show had disclosed that illegal stone blasting and crushing had been going on unchecked for 35 years in Union Council Lora of Abbottabad district, destroying the green hills.The bench noted that illegal deforestation and stone crushing had been constantly going on despite the court orders.

Law officer representing the federal government informed the bench that he was submitting a report on the matter. However, Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed observed that reports were not solution to the problems adding that the court needed reply on a single paper stating as to what serious measures had been taken so far for the protection of Margalla Hills.

He noted that illegal deforestation and stone quarrying in Margalla Hills had been established despite the court orders.He observed that all the three governments had failed so far to take strict action against the officials responsible for negligence.

The court expressed dissatisfaction with the progress of administration in the matter.Addressing, Additional Advocate General KP Waqar Ahmed, Justice Azmat Saeed questioned as to whether Banigala was part of the KP.

Justice Azmat hinted at the complaint of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan, which he had filed with the top court seeking its attention to the illegal deforestation and encroachments in Banigala.

Admonishing Waqar Ahmed, Justice Azmat observed that he was more conscious about violation of law in Banigala but not concerned about the law being violated in the Margalla Hills.Later, the court adjourned the hearing for a week.