PTI chief asked to submit NOC, map

ISLAMABAD -  Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar on Thursday directed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan to submit a reply on the documents regarding the no-objection certificate and the map of his Bani Gala estate.

According to a report submitted by the CDA, former union council secretary Bara Kahu Muhammad Umer has said that the NOC submitted to the court by Imran related to his Bana Gala residence was never issued by the authority.

The chief justice heading a three-member bench of the apex court heard the case regarding encroachments and environmental degradation in Bani Gala.

The court gave time to the PTI chief after his counsel Babar Awan could not appear before the court. Faisal Chaudhry, assisting the PTI panel of lawyers, told the court they have not yet received the report submitted by the CDA and sought time to file his reply.

Chaudhry denied the report regarding the PTI chief’s Bani Gala residence having been constructed illegally. To which, the chief justice responded that the counsel should deliver this denial outside the court.

The chief justice said it was the job of authorities concerned to demolish constructions made illegally and their (judges) main concern was the provision of clean drinking water and removing contamination from Rawal Dam. “We do not want hazardous water to be delivered to the public,” he added. At the start of the hearing, the chief justice also admonished State Minister for Capital Administration and Development Division Tariq Fazal Chaudhry who was sitting in front row. The chief justice inquired from him what he was saying on TV last night. “What trial you want to take from the Supreme Court,” the CJP asked the minister. When the minister tried to say something, the chief justice asked him to take his seat.

Additional Attorney General Nayyar Rizvi informed the court that they will make a film of the area through a drone and submit a report to the court.

The chief justice said that their only concern was the health issue of people of the twin cities. He said that Rawal Lake was totally contaminated and urgent measures were required for its purification.

“Tell us as how to remove contamination from the lake,” the chief justice asked the AAG. The law officer replied that the other day he had an extensive meeting with the Attorney General who gave him some good suggestions for the cleansing of Rawal Lake.

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