SC rejects petitions filed against the construction of degree college in Swat

ISLAMABAD, July 05 (SABAH): Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday rejected the petitions filed against the construction of degree college in Swat. While giving remarks, Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial observed that cutting flower trees for construction of college is an excess as it could also be constructed at a hill instead of an agriculture land.

A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Aminuddin Khan and Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar started hearing of the case. While addressing the government lawyer, the Chief Justice of Pakistan asked that 492 trees have been cut down from the acquired land for construction of the degree college; how the private land was selected for the purpose; have the environmental assessment report been made prior to acquiring the land.

Khyber Pakhtukhwa lawyer argued that the environment assessment report was taken from the institution concerned. To this the Chief Justice termed an excess, saying degree college could be built up at hill instead of agriculture land on the lines of Namal College that was built in Mianwali’s mountainous area. Barkly College was also constructed on a hill. To this the lawyer of KPK said argued that it can be thought to build public educational buildings for future.

The lawyer further said that work on college construction is underway. The court after hearing the arguments of private owners against acquiring land for degree college rejected their petitions.