The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed Capital Development Authority (CDA) to stop operation against the constructions made on agriculture farms having more than 4500 square feet area.
The three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry resumed hearing of the case. The court also directed Attorney General Munir A Malik to obtain directives from the federal government in connection with tempering of master plan and utilisation of agriculture farm for residential purpose and file the reply with it.
The court directed CDA chairman to assist AG in this matter besides presenting report in respect of the allottees found involved in using the agriculture farms for residential purpose individually. The chief justice remarked that people had built swimming pools and homes on the precious land allotted for the purpose of agriculture farms and CDA had allowed people to do whatever they wanted.
The Chief Justice observed that CDA failed to maintain its decision taken in 2004 by declaring it illegal on its own. CDA will have to face the implications in this regard as IG level police officers are involved in occupation of lands, he added.
Justice Chaudhry remarked that agriculture farms were leased out at low rates during last 10 years and those who could not get the land on lease adopted the way of purchasing these land from their allottees and they built their palaces therein.
Justice Gulzar Ahmad remarked that the CDA had allotted land on lease but the allottees have considered themselves permanent owners of these plots.
CDA Member Planning Mustafain Kazmi said that a scrutiny committee has been constituted to stop the occupation and to retrieve these plots. He said that all the land record was being computerised and steps are being taken against the land mafia. He also complained that Islamabad police was not cooperating in removing the encroachments. The court was adjourned for two weeks.
