ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) Wednesday directed to club all cases regarding lease of railway land, as it announced that it would decide the Royal Palm club case on Thursday.
A three-member bench of the court headed by Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed and comprising Justice Faisal Arab and Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan heard the case.
During the course of proceedings, Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan remarked that Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed had stated that the ministry would not lease its land for more than five years.
The counsel for railway said that no business person was ready for the short-term lease. Upon this Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan responded that land was not allocated to the railway for business purposes. He remarked that housing schemes were developed on railway land.
Once railway department was the biggest landowner in the country, he added.
Justice Azmat Saeed remarked that railway could not maintain its land. He remarked that railway should return unutilized land to the government.
He also observed that expansion in railway line is not visible.
He remarked that the court would decide the matter of Royal Palm Club on Thursday as it was pending since many years.
Later hearing of the case was adjourned till date in office.