PM Imran to pay fine for not regularizing Bani Gala property, remarks CJP Nisar

ISLAMABAD - Chief Justice Saqib Nisar remarked on Tuesday that the incumbent premier Imran Khan will have to submit fine if he fails to get his Bani Gala property regularized.

During the hearing of a case related to illegal construction in the suburbs of the federal capital, the top judge addressed the counsel for Imran Khan, Babar Awan and clarified that he was not making any political statement.

Justice Nisar further said that construction in Bani Gala violates town planning procedures, however, hastened to add that to demolish such structures would not be justified.

'What steps did you people take in the last 50 days?,' inquired the chief justice while turning to Babar Awan.

Upon this, the lawyer responded that Shaheryar Afridi was looking after the matter these days.

The chief justice observed that after people get to know that that the prime minister has paid penalty, they will be asked to regularise their properties.

The bench directed that a committee with special powers be formed under the chairmanship of the interior secretary to ensure the regularisation of properties in Bani Gala area. The apex court also ordered to revoke the lease of companies violating their lease obligations.

During the proceedings, Additional Attorney General Tariq Mahmood Khokar informed the court that a 12-kilometre long wall will be constructed around Bani Gala where the residence of the premier is located.

“A four kilometre long wall has already been constructed, while it will be expanded by another four kilometres by November,” Khokar informed the court.

He further said that the funds to complete the wall have not been released and five companies are responsible for encroachments in the area while highlighting the findings of former chairman Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) Kamran Lashari’s report.

To this, the chief justice remarked that companies that violate the lease should be taken over.

“The companies not abiding by their lease have ten days to vacate, after which the buildings will be razed down” the court observed.

The court adjourned the hearing till 22 October.