SC gives CDA a week to verify Imran’s house map

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to verify within a week the documents pertaining to maps of Banigala residence construction of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan and submit compliance report.

A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, heard a suo moto case regarding illegal construction in Bani Gala. During the course of hearing, Babar Awan, counsel for PTI Chairman Imran Khan, produced before the court documents of Bani Gala residence.

The learned counsel informed the court that No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the construction of the house was issued in 1990 by the Bhara Kahu Union Council, adding that his client had made the payment of fees for the land in 2002 besides submitting the map with the Union Council for the construction of house at 250 acres of land for which the authorities issued a certificate in 2003.

Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, however, asked as to whether the map for construction of the said house was approved as required under the law, saying when the construction is completed, the authorities have to examine as to whether construction was made as per the map approved.

The Additional Attorney General (AAG) submitted that they can inform the court after checking with the record. The court observed that it would first verify the documents relating to the house map.

Babar Awan contended that there was no law for verifying the map, adding that the government may not verify the map of the PTI chief's house. Earlier, during the course of hearing, the CDA presented a report before the court regarding hundreds of kanals of land near the Rawal Dam which was given on lease.

The civic body made a presentation on the projector in the court regarding construction made in Banigala. According to the report, hundreds of kanals of land around the Rawal Dam was given to different people on lease for a period ranging from 15 to 30 years. The court was informed that on this land, marriage halls as well as car race tracks have been constructed wherein a commercial business is being run.

Mohammad Malick was also allotted land on lease. Babar Awan told the court that Malick had two lease of land measuring 20 and 40 kanals. He alleged that the CDA had awarded all the contracts to blue-eyed people without giving any advertisement and bidding for acquirement of these lands. Meanwhile, the court sought complete details of the land around the Rawal Dam, given on lease.