By Minahil Makhdoom
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Wednesday extended the orders to seal the Naval Sailing Club established at the Rawal Lake. As Chief Justice Athar Minallah heard the case pertaining to the Naval Sailing Club and Naval Farms, the IHC noted that there was a complete ban on additional constructions at the two facilities.
Malik Qamar Afzal represented the Naval Farms while Ashtar Ausaf appeared on behalf of the Pakistan Navy Chief. There is no rule of law here, remarked the chief justice and added that every petition heard by the court showed that the law was only for the weak.
The CDA (Capital Development Authority), the Revenue Department and the area SHO, all of them are involved [in such matters], Chief Justice Minallah observed. “Why don’t you show courage to say that you cannot implement the law,†he asked the CDA counsel and remarked that the environment had been destroyed in the [Margalla Hills] National Park and the city.
“Shut it down if you are to remain limited to the record room,†the chief justice remarked while addressing the counsel for CDA. “Environment has been destroyed and the state machinery is used for this purpose,†Chief Justice Minallah remarked and warned that the future generations would pay the price for that.
He remarked that the court received a petition every day that the law wasn’t being followed. The chief justice observed that a kiosk was demolished without any notice given to the owner. No one would get involved in such a practice if every illegal construction was removed, he remarked. At this point, Ashtar Ausaf said a similar action was taken in Lahore but the things had started again.
Meanwhile, Zainab Janjua, the petitioner, argued that the structures were being erected in the Naval Farms despite the ban imposed by the court. This information angered the chief justice who remarked that the court would not allow violation of its orders. However, the counsel for Naval Farms assured the court of complying with the orders. “It would be an insult of uniform if we take action under contempt of court for violating the court orders,†the chief justice remarked.
When the counsel argued that there was a misunderstanding as the Naval Farms wasn’t a commercial venture, the chief justice asked him to show where the Constitution has allowed commercial business. Later, Ashtar Ausaf requested the court to allow service of boats at the Naval Sailing Club.
However, Chief Justice Minallah only allowed repairing the same. After passing the necessary orders, the court adjourned further hearing of the matter till the second week of September.
