Islamabad - The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Federal Investigation Agency to hold a criminal inquiry against Capital Development Authority officials for colluding with the people in carrying out illegal construction at the Margalla Hills National Parks (MHNP).

The apex court civic body was asked to take action within 24 hours against its officials i.e. DG State Management and DG Environment who were involved in granting permission to the people for constructing buildings in the National Park areas. Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Chief Commissioner was ordered to file the record of the transfer of forest land in the name of influential people.

Justice Qazi Faez Isa said that no one even the judges and generals is above the law.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed and Justice Qazi Faez Isa was hearing the suo moto against tree cutting in Islamabad National Park areas. Justice Azmat warned that if their order will not be complied with then next time they might be hearing bail applications of CDA officials.

Taking strong notice of chopping of trees to widen Embassy Road the court sought a comprehensive report from the CDA that who has authorized this project, reasons to widen road, decision-making process and how many trees were cut for the purpose.

Justice Azmat said the CDA has become capital destruction authority. Justice Qazi remarked, “Are the CDA officials for to sell and kill the city? Everything is done with the consent and connivance of the CDA officials. They don’t have any respect for the law and anything.” Advocate Munir Piracha, appearing on behalf of CDA, requested the court to grant an opportunity so that high command of the civic body could identify the officials responsible for allowing construction in the green belt.

During the proceeding, the court kept on asking for the CDA chairman or someone from the civic body to respond to their queries. The CDA counsel told that the chairman CDA and Director General Environment are not present in the court.

Hammad Naqi, CEO World Wildlife Fund-Pakistan, in pursuant of the court order presented blueprints of the National Park where the construction is going on with impunity.  He also gave a presentation on multi-media regarding the construction. He said that in Shadra, Chauntra, Mandiala, Johri Block and Sinyari, which are parts of Margalla Hills National Parks, people are constructing restaurants, resorts, and houses.

Justice Azmat noted that it is not the dereliction of duty but the CDA officials actually failed to perform their duty. He asked the CDA counsel to fix the responsibility and they should be removed from services, and if those people, who had allowed the construction are transferred or retired then the action should be taken against them as well.

Munir Paracha informed the court that they would remove the encroachment. The ICT was directed to facilitate the CDA. The court noted that the National Park is double protected; one under the CDA and other by the ICT Zoning Regulations 1993.

Justice Qazi said that there is no footpath in Islamabad to walk on, adding the administration is worried about the big cars; therefore, they are expanding roads. “No one is thinking about the poor people,” he said.