Illegal conversion of lands: Supreme Court may cancel all agriculture farms allotments

The Supreme Court on Tuesday hinted at cancelling all agricultural farms allotments, allowed by Capital Development Authority (CDA) in the suburbs of Islamabad, which have been turned into leisure houses, villas or marriage halls.
A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Justice Javed Iqbal was hearing a suo motu case regarding illegal construction of farm houses on these pieces of lands which were meant for growing vegetables, orchards and poultry for supplying fresh commodities to the Capital.
Justice Javed Iqbal remarked that why allotments of these farm houses not be cancelled if they were meant for producing/providing fresh milk, vegetables and fruits to the citizens but CDA has relaxed the rules, turning these farm houses into pleasure spots for those who matter.
The bench directed the owners who had done illegal constructions on the farms and those who were running marriage halls instead of using it for agriculture purposes, to appear before the court along with all the records on the next hearing.
The civic body was also directed to ensure its presence along with all relevant records, explaining as to why action was not taken against those who did not follow the laid down CDA rules, marring the very purpose for which these two and a half acres farm was allotted mostly to the displaced persons of Islamabad.
The court appointed Attorney General for Pakistan Molvi Anwarul Haq as amicus curiae in the case as a large chunk of agriculture farms are being misused in connivance with the CDA. Justice Javed Iqbal said the farmhouses spread over 90 percent area in the Capital are being misused - grand villas have been constructed instead of growing fruits, vegetables or running dairy farms.
The bench observed that the owners are not using the agri farms allotted to them as per rules and regulations while the civic body has also relaxed the rules, giving them free hand to use farms lands for whatever purposes they wanted. Terming the case as that of great public importance, the bench directed the AG to tell the owners of the farmhouses that the land spread over hundreds acres, allotted to them, was meant for construction of marriage halls and grand bungalows.
The bench warned that the court will thoroughly examine all the legal aspects of the case as the CDA had allotted 505 agri farms so far to different people, on which illegal construction has been made, flouting the very purpose for which allotments were made. The hearing was adjourned for two weeks.