Road to residence: SC orders Dar to pay for park work

LAHORE: Chief Justice Saqib Nisar on Thursday blasted the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) DG Zahid Akhtar Zaman for allowing uprooting a portion of a public park to construct a road leading to former finance minister Ishaq Dar's residence.

A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Nisar, had summoned the LDA DG atthe Lahore Registry after taking suo motu notice against the encroachment of the park in Block-H, Gulberg III to convert a single-lane road into double-lane outside the residence of Dar.

The court ordered him to restore the park within 10 days. “The cost of rebuilding the park should be taken from Dar,” remarked the chief justice after Zaman said around Rs2 million had been incurred on constructing the road.

A portion of the park near Dar’s residence had been uprooted to build a road which leads directly to his house. However, the road is said to be prohibited for public use. While referring to Zaman, the chief justice had questioned with whose authority the LDA allowed the road construction on the park land.

“Ishaq Dar had requested to widen the road outside his house for parking,” replied Zaman. The chief justice then asked if the former finance minister had sent an official written request, to which the DG replied Dar had directed him on the phone.” The response irked Chief Justice Nisar who remarked that the official should also be investigated by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

“What kind of officer are you? On just one phone call by a minister, you uprooted a park? You will have to pay the price. I won't allow favouritism. You should be investigated according to the NAB law.” The DG then apologised unconditionally before the court, but the chief justice remarked: “The time for apologies has passed.” Chief Justice Nisar then ordered Zaman to explain how the park was built in a written statement and submit it to court. “Bring all the record as well as your oath.”

The three-member bench also observed that the conduct of the official should be investigated under Section 9 of NAB law. On this, the official asked for forgiveness, accepting that he made a mistake. The chief justice showed restraint and avoided referring the matter to NAB. Justice Atta Bandial remarked that further probe would be conducted later and that restoration of the park should be the only focus for now.

On Wednesday, the chief justice had taken the suo motu notice of a portion of a park being uprooted to build a road leading to Dar’s residence.

Notices were issued to DG the LDA, Lahore deputy commissioner and the Punjab government. The chief justice had asked the authorities under which law the park had been uprooted to build the road. The chief justice also issued notices to the LDA director general and Dar to decide whether the amount incurred on the restoration should be recovered from the LDA chief or the former finance minister. Later, the court deferred the hearing till April 7.