ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday directed Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi to appear in-person in the Bahria Town allotment case on Tuesday (today).
A five-member larger bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar, summoned Elahi in his capacity as former Punjab chief minister for ordering the delimitation of forests land in Muaza Takht Pari which was later allotted to Bahria Town.
The bench was hearing a review petition moved by Bahria Town (Pvt) Ltd against the May 4 verdict in which the apex court had held that Takht Pari, located six kilometres from Rawalpindi near GT Road, encompassed 2,210 acres, and not 1,741 acres.
During the course of proceedings, the court observed that Chaudhry’s family had also allegedly benefitted from the forests’ delimitation even though he was not authorised to issue any such orders.
The CJP remarked that the former chief minister should appear before the court to explain as to under what authority did he pass the orders.
Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, counsel for Bahria Town, informed the bench that the court had ordered the Survey General of Pakistan to prepare a report on the limitation of forests, which would be submitted within a week.
Justice Asif Saeed Khosa said the court was expecting that the senior lawyer would speak of the forest and illegal cutting of trees.
Justice Ijazul Ahsan remarked that the former Punjab chief minister had approved a summary moved by the forest department, which was not his mandate.
The court then issued a summon for the Punjab assembly speaker and adjourned the case till December 4.
