F-9 Park case: SC reserves ruling

Pakistan

F-9 Park case: SC reserves ruling

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13 May,2010 12:38 pm

The Supreme Court of Pakistan Thursday reserved the verdict in the cases illegal constructions of commercial buildings in F-9 Park of the capital. A three-member SC bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Ghulam Rabbani and Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday heard the cases of Sizza Foods Pakistan Ltd, Nazriyah Pakistan Council and Citizen Club, which have constructed buildings in the park in violation of laws. During the hearing, Justice Ramday asked whether any law is implemented on CDA, is it a free institution. The CJP observed that the CDA is an institution of public service and guardian of every single inch of the capital city; therefore it must not act irresponsibly. Who would be responsible if tomorrow you sell the place to RAW or MOSSAD, the CJ posed a question. Counsel of Capital Development Authority (CDA), Mian Allah Nawaz, during his half-hour argumentation, failed to defend the CDA. On Monday, CDA admitted it had violated the constitution by giving approval for the construction known as Fatima Jinnah Park.CDA counsel Mian Allah Nawaz admitted that in the execution of the F-9 project, his clients had breached of article 18 (freedom of trade, business etc) and also that there were irregularities in the master plan.However, his appeal to the court for mercy was unhesitatingly shot down by Chaudhry who said that failure to allow competition negates the principle of transparency.