Senate special committee chaired by Afrasayab Khattak on Monday has summoned complete details of lands utilised commercially by the armed forces.
The issue of forced occupation of tribal estate in Quetta by security elements has been referred to DG-MLC (director general military lands and cantonments), who has also been directed to take senators’ viewpoints into account, regarding the issue, resolving it as well.
Among other such related issues, payments of estate acquired for utilisation by Rangers and FC troops in Nowshera was also deliberated; whence the defense ministry officials informed the committee that a writ against the verdict of Peshawar High Court had been filed in the Supreme Court, which the SC had accepted for review. To be held sooner.
DG-MLC Mazhar Saleem Khan also informed the committee that a summary by the defense ministry relating to funds for payment of this land had been sent to the finance ministry for approval but the committee members had objected over the draft of such a summary since the summary wrongly asks for disbursement of these funds to the defense ministry as this issue was subjudice in courts of law.
Farhatullah Babar and representatives of the defense ministry also indulged in a minor spat over the issue that the defense ministry officials’ stance differed from their previous one.
The committee also expressed its chagrin over absence of the defense ministry and its secretary, giving strict directives that both should ascertain their presence in committee meetings.
