News Analysis |
The Supreme Court of Pakistan has grilled the Capital Development Authority (CDA) for its inability to regulate property and land. The apex court reportedly emphasized on ‘payment of property regularization fee’ during the Suo Motu hearing of the Bani Gala encroachment case.
According to media reports, a three-member bench headed by the top judge and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Sajjad Ali Shah had previously directed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government to regularize all properties located in the federal capital’s suburbs including the sprawling residence of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
It is also important to note here that the PTI-led government has initiated a massive anti-encroachment movement to demolish illegally constructed buildings across the country.
During the hearing, Justice Nisar observed that the construction was allowed in Bani Gala’s Zones 3 and 4 without a master plan. The CDA has been directed to do the needful as soon as possible in order to ensure that the law is the same for everyone.
Moreover, the CJP also remarked that if the CDA planned on building a new city in the suburbs, it shall have to buy the land and pay compensation. “There need to be some rules,” he pointed out.
The top judge has also said that all the properties will be demolished if their owners failed to pay the regularization fee. The court then adjourned the hearing till November 20.
Read more: Government’s anti-encroachment drive may backfire in upcoming by-polls?
Just after the hearing of the case, some media segments wrote some very misleading headlines. “The PTI-led government has no plan and capabilities to run the affairs of the state” some of the prominent print media outlets claimed. GVS approached some experts and lawyers to explore the matter.
All of them agreed on the single point that the top judge was addressing the CDA and making comments in a specific context. “The top judge knows the government is newly elected and any comments like the media has presented can hurt the legitimacy it is enjoying at the movement,” one of the lawyers told GVS.
The government needs a little more time to focus on minor policy issues once it is done with the mega economic challenges, a policy expert told media.
It is also important to note here that the PTI-led government has initiated a massive anti-encroachment movement to demolish illegally constructed buildings across the country. According to the sources, in Punjab, the land mafia is currently occupying thousands of kanals of land in the provincial capital, which includes 31,000 of Revenue Department, 636 of LDA [Lahore Development Authority] and 280 of Forests Department.
As per media reports, in Karachi, the authorities demolished more than 1,000 shops in four markets so far in the surroundings of the iconic Empress Market in an attempt to restore the British-era structure to its original shape.
Read more: War against land grabbers: Punjab govt hammers down illegal properties
Analysts believe that the government should be appreciated for its anti-encroachment move and no campaign based upon disinformation should be launched. The government needs a little more time to focus on minor policy issues once it is done with the mega economic challenges, a policy expert told media.