CJP vows to make allotment, lease of govt land transparent

KARACHI: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar pledged on Wednesday to make the allotment and lease of government land transparent.

The CJP remarked that government land could not be allocated for commercial purposes without holding an auction.

CJP Nisar was heading a three-member bench at the Supreme Court (SC) Karachi registry and heard petitions filed by citizens that sought relaxation in the stay order related to conversion, allotment and sale of government land.

The CJP said, “[We] will not allow allotment of land [to anyone] without ensuring transparency.”

“I have been a judge for 21 years, I know how everything works and [what goes on],” added Justice Nisar.

Moreover, the bench barred the allotment of 524 acres of government land for installation of an energy project on a petition filed by a private energy firm.