Retrieving illegally-occupied PR land: Supreme Court asks Secretary Railways Board to devise strategy

The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued directives to Secretary Railways Board to devise strategy for retrieval of Railways' land from illegal occupants, whereas the Defence and Interior secretaries were asked to submit detailed report about Railways land, which is presently in possession of armed forces.
"Enforcing law to poor segment of the society has become culture in the country, whereas nobody bothers to question the wrongs committed by the influential," Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry observed during the hearing of a case regarding corruption and irregularities in Pakistan Railways (PR).
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry expressed dismay over the Railways Chairman, who did not pay any heed to the court notice. The bench ordered to ensure his appearance in person on next hearing. A member of the bench, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain, said that the court had no intend to interfere in the administrative affairs. "Is the Parliament fulfilling its obligations and blocking wrong doings?" he questioned.
Another member of the bench Justice Tariq Parvez observed that now 'corruption' was being considered as a right. At the outset of hearing, the PR and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) submitted a report in pursuance of court order relating to retrieval of state land as well as corruption. The bench, however, rejected the report terming it dissatisfactory.
The court noted that the directions given by the bench were not implemented in the present matter by the concerned authorities so far. Attorney for Secretary Railways Board Shafiq Ullah told the court that 87 acres of land had so far been retrieved from the illegal occupants, whereas efforts were underway to retrieve the remaining land. To a court query, he informed that the provinces were also extending co-operation to this effect.
"Has Railways brought any influential in the net or only cottages of the poor people have been demolished," the Chief Justice asked. In Quetta, the CJP said the cottages of poor people were demolished but nobody dares to touch the land under occupation of FC. "I can tell the name of a person, who has constructed and running a petrol pump on the Railways land," the Chief Justice categorically observed, adding that the land so far retrieved was just peanuts and an eye-wash.
He further observed that had the work been done, all the illegal occupants would have been behind the bars, adding that compromises prevail everywhere and no one want to deliver with honesty. The report submitted by Railways stated that 15 more locomotives would be repaired soon. It said that 67.635 acres of PR land had been retrieved, adding that 4987.369 acres was still under occupation of different departments and only the security forces have encroached upon around 1,568 acres of PR land.
Regarding the forensic audit, the report stated that around 14 firms had responded to PR Expression of Interest (EI) by February 10, 2012. It said that short listing of the firms would be completed by March 5, 2012 followed by the issuance of requests for proposal to the selected firms.
The report stated that business train under auspices of Public-Private Partnership has successfully been launched on February 3 between Lahore and Karachi, whereas Shalimar Express would be inaugurated on February 24 between Lahore and Karachi. During the hearing, National Assembly's Standing Committee on Railways Chairman Ayaz Sadiq informed the court that PR had become the most corrupt institution of the country. "You are member of the National Assembly and it is responsibility of the parliament to take notice of wrong doings," Justice Tariq Parvez told Sadiq.
"We are not fond of interfering in the administrative matters, but when parliament does not perform its functions, we are compelled to take notice," Justice Khilji Arif Hussain observed. The CJP noted that mismanagement and corruption prevailed everywhere and no institution was performing and delivering efficiently. He said good governance produces good institutions. He said action should be taken against every institution, which does not perform its duties according to law. He said Railways should take care of its land and think about its losses.
In Karachi, he said big plazas have been constructed on the PR land, adding that during the hearing of Karachi's unrest case, the court had ordered action against encroachments, however, the order had not been implemented so far. Former Miinister Railways Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad informed the bench that the business train launched recently between Lahore and Karachi had been given on contract to the son of National Assembly member Abdul Ghafoor and three others.
He further apprised the bench that the train had suffered Rs 100 million loss in only 10 days. He added spare parts recently purchased from China at Rs 1.5 billion did not yet reach Karachi. He informed huge embezzlements were committed in purchase of these spare parts, pealing the court to take notice of it. The court adjourned further hearing by February 27.