SC to resume Bani Gala encroachments case today

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ISLAMABAD: A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar will on Tuesday resume the case pertaining to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan’s residence in Islamabad and encroachments in Bani Gala area.

The CJP earlier summoned a report from the Capital Development Authority (CDA) regarding the leasing of land in the locality, which is expected to be presented before the court today.

At the last hearing, the apex court had remarked that Imran Khan’s Bani Gala residence map was not approved and declared the construction of residence illegal.

The CJP had told Khan’s counsel Babar Awan that documents provided by Imran Khan regarding his Bani Gala residence were not correct, adding that the construction was illegal, in his opinion.

He had warned that that single law would be made for everyone in Bani Gala, adding that Imran Khan would face the same consequences like others would be facing.

Babar Awan had denied any malpractice or lie, asking the court to check the signatures of the union council (UC) secretary. He had maintained that his client would never indulge in malpractices for some money.

Awan had added that his client had obtained a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the construction of his house in Bani Gala from the then Sohan Union Council Secretary Muhammad Umar in 2003. However, Umar had denied the issuance of any such document.

Nevertheless, the CJP had assured that the court will not demolish anyone’s construction, asking Imran’s lawyer to submit Rs2 million for precaution in case regularisation is required.

PTI Chairperson Imran Khan has consistently denied allegations of forging the documents regarding the construction of his Bani Gala residence in Islamabad.

On February 28, Additional Attorney General (AAG) Nayyar Rizvi while submitting a report in the SC had said that he could not verify the no-objection certificate (NoC) submitted by the Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman for the construction of his residence in the federal capital.

In 2017, the apex court was informed of over a hundred illegal structures, including the PTI chief’s residence in Bani Gala by the CDA. On the February 22 hearing, Imran’s counsel in lieu of the court’s directions had submitted Bani Gala estate’s building plans.