PM should pay fees for ‘regularisation of Banigala land’

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar said on Monday that Prime Minister Imran Khan should pay the government fees for regularisation of illegal construction in Banigala Islamabad as it would set the standard for everyone else.

“The prime minister should set an example, so that others follow,” the top judge said, adding that it was up to Imran how he regularises the property.

He ordered a committee looking into regularisation of all Banigala properties to immediately submit the outcome of its meeting.

Informing the court that a committee had been set up and would meet shortly, Additional Attorney General Nayyar Abbas Rizvi asked for more time.

But the judge denied the request and inquired why they should be given time, adding that the court was the one that had created the committee.

He ordered the panel to quickly submit the outcome of its meeting within the next few hours.

The person [Imran] who initiated THE CASE should BE THE irst one to pay the fee, Justice Nisar said.

On a suo motu, the apex court in April had taken up illegal constructions in Banigala on a letter written by Imran, who had invited the court’s attention towards the large-scale encroachments on the botanical garden, unchecked and unplanned construction in Banigala, massive denuding due to large scale tree felling and pollution of the Rawal Lake due to sewage.

The premier’s lawyer Babar Awan informed the court that Imran was ready to pay.

Taking aim at the Capital Development Authority (CDA) of Islamabad, Justice Nisar said that while the prime minister may be ready to pay the fees, it was being delayed by the CDA.

The judge reiterated that the prime minister should pay the regularisation fees, otherwise the court would give orders to THE inance Department to recover it. “A leader should be an example.”