- Justice Nisar expresses dissatisfaction over lack of progress
- CJP to summon PM Imran if regularisation fee not paid
ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar said that Prime Minister Imran Khan must pay regularisation fee for the Bani Gala residence on Monday after refusing to grant any more extensions in the illegal encroachment case.
While hearing a case pertaining to the illegal encroachment at Bani Gala, CJP Nisar said that “no further extensions would be granted and that PM Imran should pay the fee today (Monday)”. He said this after the additional attorney general requested the court to grant an extension till Thursday after forming a committee during the previous hearing.
He ordered the committee to submit the outcome of its meeting by 10pm on Monday.
The top judge stated that the prime minister should set an example and pay the regularisation fee saying, “He [PM Imran] was the first to highlight these issues. PM Imran should regularise his own residence and set an example for others to follow.”
Justice Nisar also warned that the prime minister will be summoned in the case if the regularisation fee is not paid.
Following this, PM Khan’s lawyer Babar Awan informed the court that the premier was ready to pay.
The top judge reiterated that the prime minister should pay the regularisation fees, otherwise the court would give orders to the finance department to recover it.
“A leader should be an example,” CJP said.
In addition to that, the court also expressed its dissatisfaction over the lack of progress in the matter despite being granted 10 days extension to complete the task.
While addressing the Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Afzal Latif, the chief justice lamented that majority of the problems are within the local development authority.
He further ordered for the details of the committee meeting to be submitted to the registrar’s office.
The hearing of the case has been adjourned till October 30.
Earlier, the SC had said that it was the job of the PTI government to regularise all properties in the area, including the residence of PM Khan.
The top court had ordered authorities to demolish all encroachments around Korang riverbed in the light of a report drafted by the Survey of Pakistan.
