CJP orders closure of Gun and Country Club

–Top judge says no legal approval was sought for the construction of club on Pakistan Sports Board land

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar declared on Monday that the Gun and Country Club in the federal capital is “illegal”.

He said this while heading a bench hearing a case related to the club and the construction of a marriage hall on its premises.

“The land on which the club has been established belongs to Pakistan Sports Board and people who are members of the club took membership at their own risk,” the chief justice asserted.

“There is no legal approval for the construction of the club,” the chief justice remarked.

Justice Nisar further directed the sports board to “take over land” on which the club is established as well as the marriage hall constructed on the premises. An earlier notification regarding the club’s establishment was also nullified.

Further, the bench directed Survey of Pakistan to demarcate 145 acres of land on which the club is established within two weeks and also ordered the sports board to employ the gun club’s employees.

The chief justice also referred to the matter regarding returning the membership fee to the relevant ministry.

It added, “Capital Development Authority (CDA) was not asked before leasing land to the gun club.”

Earlier as the hearing went underway, Additional Attorney General Nayyar Rizvi asked the top court for two days to provide details regarding the land lease.

However rejecting his request, Justice Nisar said, “If I give you time the case will keep dragging on.”

Justice Nisar further questioned, “The land was allotted to the sports board, how was a gun club established on it?”

The Gun and Country Club counsel then informed the court, “CDA gave the land on lease to the sports board and the club administration leased it from them.”

“The club administration constructed a pool on the premises and will also make rooms in the future,” the chief justice added.

The Gun and Country Club was established in 2002 at the foot of Shakarparian Hills.