CDA land grabbed by Senator Nayyar Bukhari: Supreme Court asks CDA to take over possession of land

Supreme Court on Tuesday directed Capital Development Authority (CDA) to take over the possession of 154 kannal CDA land illegally occupied by Senator Nayyar Hussain Bukhari immediately. A three-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and Justice Khali-ur-Rehman Ramday and Justice Ghulam Rabbani as it member, termed the occupation a criminal offence.
The court took a sou moto notice of the matter after a letter written by Imran Khan, chairman Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI), alleging that Leader of the House in Senate and Chairman Judges appointment committee had grabbed CDA land in Malpur village.
In his letter to the apex court, the PTI chief had said that a few days ago, an English daily reported the land grabbing activities at CDA acquired land located on the both sides of the Saleem Omar Road leading to Banni Gala in Zone-III of Federal Capital by Nayyar Hussasin Bukhari. It has alleged that Islamabad Development Committee, a politically motivated body, run by Dr Babar Awan, who is also law minister, Faisal Sakhi Butt and Nayyar Hussain Bokhari as its members, surprisingly, oversee the affairs of CDA, contrary to the fact that CDA itself is the development authority.
"Imran Khan has resorted to false propaganda against me on political grounds," the furious Bukhari tried to prove himself innocent before the apex court during the hearing but the court directed Bukhari to give up the possession of the land without any delay.
"Just cool down...don not raise your voice as it is a public property and you know when it is a matter of public interest, the court is duty-bound to decide the case on merit," Justice Ramday told the furious Bukhari when he tried to protest in front of the SC bench.
CDA acquired 20, 000 acres land for the development purposes back in 1960 but it did not vacate the area due to which gradually the inhabitants possessed the CDA acquired land. Chairman CDA told the court that at that time, the authority did not need the acquired land. This response of chairman CDA Imtiaz Inayat Elahi annoyed the apex court. "If the authority could not get possession of its acquired lands then why it was purchased," asked Justice Ghulam Rabbani.
Chairman CDA informed the court that Nayyar Bukhari had assured him that whenever CDA would be in need of the land, it is available, but Nayyar Bukhari spoke otherwise. When asked why CDA had not yet taken possession of its land, chairman CDA submitted there were some technical problems, as the land was acquired in mid 60s but was in the possession of locals. He further told the court that the issue of 'common land' is yet to be resolved. The court scolded the CDA chief saying: "This is a very simple thing but you are just trying to complicate the case. You seem to be doing favour to some influential persons of the area, which is not acceptable."