–Chief Justice Nisar bans construction of housing societies on railways’ land, dissolves Royal Palm’s administrative board
–Appoints accounting firm Ferguson & Co to seize club’s records, conduct forensic audit
–Railways minister says illegal occupation of club has ended with apex court’s orders
LAHORE: The Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan on Thursday banned the construction of housing societies on railways’ land, while taking Royal Palm Golf and Country Club (RPGCC) into judicial custody and ordered that its records be seized.
These directives were issued as Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar heard a suo motu case pertaining to the lease of railways’ land at throwaway prices at the Lahore registry of the top court.
A three-member bench of the top court, headed by the CJP, also nullified all previous orders given by the Lahore High Court (LHC) pertaining to the golf and country club. It directed that no records pertaining to the land shall be allowed to leave the premises of the club.
Then, the court dissolved the administration of Royal Palm and appointed the accounting firm Ferguson & Co to seize all records and conduct a forensic audit.
The court told Ramzan Sheikh, the chief executive officer (CEO) of the club, and his staff to relinquish charge of the club to the auditing firm for the audit. It added that until an audit is complete, the club shall not rest with Sheikh or Pakistan Railways (PR).
The court further ordered that the old administration will not be allowed access to the club, however, all planned activities shall continue as planned.
The records of all cases pertaining to the club in the high court are also to be seized.
Later, the chief justice declared a ban on more than three-year lease of agricultural land belonging to Pakistan Railways and the construction of housing societies on it.
During the hearing, the court pored over Royal Palm’s “flawed contract”. It added that the contract has also been faulty, as it permitted the looting of billions which was done through all alliance with the railways.
“This is railways land and we shall not allow any other entity to control it. The owners of RPGCC are so influential that half the country bows up to them,” the chief justice added.
It was during the hearing that Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed pleaded with the apex court to retrieve the”most attractive land of the railways”.
Thus, Justice Nisar ordered that additional land belonging to Pakistan Railways shall not be leased for a time period of more than three years.
“If additional land is given to provinces, then the burden of selling it shall also rest with them. We will let the railways land be with the railways and if provinces have reservations then they should file petitions in accordance with the law.”
The case was adjourned till December 28.
‘ROYAL PALM NO LONGER UNDER ILLEGAL OCCUPATION’:
Separately, Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad said that illegal occupation of the Royal Palm Golf and Country Club had ended with the orders of the CJP.
Addressing a press conference at the PR Headquarters, he said now the railways’ land would only be given on a three-year lease purely on merit and asked the railway officials to start working in this regard.
He said two VVIP trains would be launched before March 23, 2019, adding that two economy trains and two air-conditioned business trains would also be made operational.
Responding to a question, he said that the business train and Shalimar Hospital cases had been sent to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), and he would personally pursue them.