imageISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday directed the federation and all the four provinces to submit comprehensive reports over steps taken for the implementation of National Housing Policy 2001 with details of funds allocated for this project.

The bench remarked that the stay order against Katchi Abadi operations will continue till next hearing.

A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja comprising Justice Dost Muhammad Khan and Justice Qazi Faez Isa heard the case.

During the course of proceedings, Abid Hassan Minto counsel for the petitioner informed the court that a lot of affected families have contacted him after the first hearing of the case. He said that comparatively provinces worked a little bit on the housing policy which was announced in year 2001.

He said the federation declared some Katchi Abadis legal while a lot of slum areas were declared illegal in the federal capital.

Justice Dost Muhammad Khan remarked that the developers of Islamabad did not think about the residences of poor people or labourers. If labourers will leave Islamabad then it would become Washington DC where no labourers is found for work.

He said if the Capital Development Authority (CDA) could not build residential units for poor segment of the society then it should inform as two private builders existed in the country having magic to convert one kanal land into 20 kanals.

He observed that if the government succeeded to overcome tax evasion then a lot of problems could be resolved.

The Chief Justice remarked that "funding is not an issue in the country but no one is willing to do work for the welfare of masses".

He said, "we are not expert on Katchi Abadis but can issue order according to the Constitution."

The court directed the federation and provinces to submit report in 10 days.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2015

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