Leasing land of F-9 Park at throwaway price: Supreme Court accepts request to grant time to complete process against official

The Supreme Court on Tuesday accepted a request of Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Secretary Establishment Division to grant time to complete the entire process against the responsible officials of CDA for leasing public land of F-9 Park (Fatima Jinnanh Park) for 33 years at a very nominal price to Messers Siza Foods (franchise holder of McDonalds) in a non-transparent manner.
A three-member bench of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Tariq Parvez and Justice Ghulam Rabbani took up identical matters regarding implementation of its verdict of June 4. Attorney General Molvi Anwarul Haq informed the court that Kamran Lashari, former chairman CDA, was served with a notice and he was willing to argue his case before the inquiry committee.
The bench, however, did not accept to take up another plea filed by Abdul Hafeez Pirzada, counsel for Kamran Lashari, saying the inquiry committee did not offer him opportunity to submit his reply. He said the committee was of the opinion that the apex Court's verdict over the issue was complete. He contended that without giving an opportunity of personal hearing, it would be a miscarriage of justice.
The Chief Justice told him that they had nothing to do with the inquiry. Justice Tariq Parvez told Pirzada that he could seek remedy from the Court if the committee conduct proceedings wrongly. Chairman CDA Imtiaz Inayat Elahi told the bench that they had sent the cases of involved officials to the National Accountability Bureau.
Secretary Establishment Division Ismail Qureshi apprised the bench that they had identified three more officials involved in the lease issue. These include, Kamran Ali Qureshi additional secretary ministry of environment, Sajjad Ahmed Bhutta DCO Lahore and former DG environment and Dr Faisal Awan. He said the inquiry against these officials would be completed within one month.
Meanwhile, the bench dismissed a review petition of Nazriya Pakistan Council (NPC) seeking a court order for a role in administration of the library built in F-9 park. Barrister Anwar Kamal, counsel for Sizza Foods, also agreed not to press with his plea after the bench told him that so far no adverse action had been taken against his client.