SC gives two weeks to move offices of IGPs, Motorway Police

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Inspectors General of Police (IGP) of Islamabad and the National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP) to remove the national flag and raise the flag of militant outfit Daesh atop their offices if they were above the law.

A two-member bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed, gave this observation while resuming hearing in a case pertaining to illegal blockades and encroachments in the residential areas of the federal capital.

Sohail Khan adds: The Supreme Court gave two weeks to the federal government to shift the offices of IGPs Islamabad and Motorways from the residential areas of the federal capital. The court rejected the Federation’s plea for granting four more weeks for shifting the two offices and gave only two weeks on the assurance of the secretary interior.

On the last hearing, the court had directed the Capital Development Authority to seal the offices of both the IGPs. Additional Attorney General (AAG) Aamir Rehman told the court that they had searched for alternative places and would shift the office of the IGP Islamabad to the Police Lines and of the IGP Motorways to the Bureau of Immigration.

He, however, contended that around four more weeks were required for uninstalling the wireless system and relocating the support staff. He told the court that the CDA chairman and secretaries interior and communication, who were present in the courtroom, may be given time to resolve the issue.

The court rejected the plea and directed implementation of its orders to the letter within two weeks. The additional attorney general requested the court to grant them an hour during which they would work out the matter with the interior secretary and chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA).

Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed observed that the I-11 slum was demolished on an immediate basis and its residents were not given time to arrange alternative accommodation. He observed that the chairman CDA should go home if he was unable to resolve the issue.

Shahid Hamid, counsel for the CDA, submitted that the process of shifting government offices as well as schools from residential areas was under way and a detailed report would be submitted to the court on the next date of hearing.

Meanwhile, the court adjourned hearing till April 11 and issued notices to the CDA and other respondents in a case pertaining to the shifting of the district courts to the allotted building Dr Aslam Khaki had filed a writ petition and later an intra-court appeal (ICA) seeking direction to the CDA to allot a proper piece of land for the district courts.

Khaki contended that after a long litigation spanning around two-and-a-half years, he managed to get a plot of about 80 canals. He said a building had also been constructed on the said plot for the district courts but suddenly the Islamabad High Court (IHC) was shifted over there due to which the district courts continued to function at the F-8 Markaz. He requested that the court directs the respondents, including the CDA and special magistrate, to make serious efforts for shifting the district courts to the allotted building.