Patriotism is about abiding by the statute: IHC

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has observed that patriotism is about abiding by the Constitution and that it will not allow anyone to undermine the rule of law in Pakistan.

“When there is no rule of law, then what is happening now in the country is bound to happen,” IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah said while hearing a petition filed against construction of the Pakistan Navy Sailing Club and the Pakistan Naval Farms on the bank of Rawal Lake.

The court stayed construction of the farms and opening of the club till Sept.26 and directed Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Amir Ali Ahmad to ensure implementation of the order. The chief justice told the CDA chairman that the court does not like to summon him again and again “but there is no rule of law here. Your job is to enforce the law.”

The judge questioned why the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) are involved in the real estate business. “This is a big conflict of interest,” he said, asking the chairman as to why the CDA is weak today. “If the CDA could give plots to others, why then not to the laborers as well?”

Ahmad informed the court that Sector I-15 of Islamabad is not for the elite but for the common man. He said the naval club is in Zone III, while the farmhouses are in Zone IV. “The Zone IV was a green area in the master plan,” he said adding that the CDA had formed a commission to make payments to the affected people.

“What good it will make if the payment is made to an affected person ater 30 years. How was it possible for someone to form a housing society and then apply to the CDA for no-objection certificate (NOC)?” the judge asked.

Ahmad responded that the CDA is taking action in this regard.

The court noted that construction work on the naval farms project was started without permission from the CDA.

“Has any action been taken?” The CDA chairman replied that no action had been taken against any CDA officer as far as the project was concerned.

The court asked the CDA official to present documents in the court to show that the CDA board had approved the Navy Sailing Club. The chairman assured to do so.

Babar Satar, the lawyer for the petitioner, informed the court that the navy is not a private developer.

However, it is very strange that serving officers were included in the trust deed. The leters of rules were also issued from the Naval Office.

The chief justice said the navy’s lawyer had told the court that the navy had nothing to do with the project.