CJP Nisar presses PM Imran for regularization of Bani Gala land

ISLAMABAD -  The Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Mian Saqib Nisar remarked on Monday that Prime Minister Imran Khan would have to get his Bani Gala property regularized, if not done already.

Hearing a case regarding encroachments in Bani Gala area in the capital, a three-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice Nisar clarified that all those responsible for illegal constructions in Bani Gala would be fined.

‘PM Imran should be the first to pay the penalty and get his property regularised,’ the chief justice remarked.

During the hearing, the additional attorney general submitted a report of Survey of Pakistan and argued that the Capital Development Authority (CDA), federal ombudsman and Survey of Pakistan’s reports on the matter, were similar.

The additional attorney general continued that a boundary of the botanical garden was being marked.

‘613.49 kanals of the botanical garden have been encroached upon. If the court orders, we will clear the area of encroachments,’ he vowed with confidence.

The additional attorney general highlighted that there was so much trash in Korang riverbed that the water was stagnant now.

On the occasion, Latif Khosa, the counsel for a Bani Gala resident, informed the court that a part of the judicial colony also falls within the boundary of the botanical garden and this point is deliberately being ignored.

However, PM Imran’s counsel, Babar Awan, stated that the judicial colony lies in the area of Murree which is very far.

The head of the apex court bench, Justice Nisar then wondered, ‘How can encroachments be curbed?’

He further remarked that other than encroachments, there were also issues of security and pollution in the area.

‘A new government has taken charge and they should resolve these issues,’ the chief justice further observed.

Justice Nisar warned that the bench could wrap up this case till encroachments are concerned and penalize those responsible for illegal constructions.

“The government should give their penalties and take it from others as well,” he further stressed.

Addressing PM Imran’s counsel, the chief justice wondered what measures are being taken to regularise properties, citing that PTI was in power now.

Upon this, Awan stated that the cabinet was taking up this matter.

The court adjourned the hearing of the case till October 5.

Bani Gala is a vast stretch of land in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad. The area also houses the home of incumbent premier, Imran Khan who now moves back and forth between his personal residence and the official residence - the home of the military secretary at the PM Secretariat.