New sectors in capital: IHC maintains decision to ban plots' allotment

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Tuesday said that September 19 ban on allotment of plots in new sectors in the federal capital has established that land was acquired without payment of due compensation.

A single-member bench led by IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah barred Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Federal Government Employees Housing Foundation (FGEHF) from allotting plots till the victims are compensated.

The government bodies have been accused of acquiring land from locals by force and on the promise of compensation which was never paid.

During the hearing, Justice Minallah was irked by the FGEHF counsel's request to remove the ban. Noting that the affected people are still running from pillar to post, he questioned about the measures taken by the government to ensure the payment of compensation.

"Plots have even been allotted to people who violated the Constitution and were convicted of financial crimes," he observed.

CDA Chairman Amer Ali Ahmed informed the high court that Rs 1.5 billion had been deposited for payment of compensation but Rs 8 billion more are required.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) parliamentarian Asad Umar appeared in court and requested for an early resolution of the long-pending matter.

"The beneficiaries of this land acquisition are politicians, bureaucrats, judges, and generals," he said, adding that Justice Minallah would be remembered forever if he resolves this 30-year-old issue.

Maintaining the decision to bar plots allotment, the IHC adjourned the case hearing for three months.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019