The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed Punjab authorities to remove all illegal constructions along Korang Nullah. The registrar Islamabad High Court has been directed to provide details of all the pending cases in the courts of Islamabad regarding illegal constructions along Korang Nullah.
A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Main Saqib Nisar, issued these directions while hearing a suo moto case regarding illegal constructions in Bani Gala as well as along Korang Nullah. The Chief Justice said the main objective of this court is to protect Korang Nullah and Botanical Garden.
The bench directed the Punjab government to summit a monthly report about the water treatment plant.
Additional Attorney General Nayyar Abbas Rizvi informed the court that all the buildings which were constructed in Bani Gala before March 30, 2018, will be regularized. However, any construction after this cut-off date would be razed. He said that Capital Development Authority (CDA) has prepared draft bill in this regard, which would be presented to the Parliament for approval. The Chief Justice directed the authorities to finalize laws for regularization in two weeks and then get their approval. The Chief Justice said if in two weeks the laws are not finalized, they will take action against minister for Capital Administration & Development Division (CADD).
The Chief Justice inquired from Imran Khan's counsel Babar Awan whether he is satisfied with the draft regularization bill. Babar Awan replied that on the directions of the apex court all parties are involved in the preparation of the draft regularization bill.
Justice Umar Atta Bandial inquired whether a plot of eight marlas of land would be regularized only by paying a fine of Rs 8. "Is this not mockery?" he asked. The AAG clarified that this fine is for one square feet and not for a plot of eight marlas of land. The Chief Justice directed the CDA officials that there should be no illegal constructions in Bani Gala in future.