Were wedding halls, cinemas & housing societies built for defence purposes? CJP asks
KARACHI, Nov 26 (SABAH): “We have decided not to allow use of cantonment land for commercial uses in the future,” the Secretary of Defense, retired Lieutenant General Mian Hilal Hussain, summoned before a three-member Supreme Court bench, assured an irate Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Gulzar Ahmed on Friday.
Three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Qazi Muhammad Amin Ahmed at Supreme Court Karachi Registry, has been hearing a case related to the conversion of cantonment land for private and commercial use.
A day earlier, the chief justice had ordered the defense secretary to appear before the court to answer questions related to the case.
When asked to submit a written report on military lands that had been converted for private or commercial use, the defense secretary asked the court for some time to do so.
“You were given land, but what are you using it for?” Justice Gulzar asked the defense secretary.
“This land was provided to you for strategic and defense purposes. You, on the other hand, are using it for commercial ventures,” he noted.
“You have built wedding halls, cinemas and housing societies on it,” added the chief justice.
“We have decided not to let this happen in the future,” the official assured in response.
At this, the secretary was scolded by Justice Qazi Amin.
“What do you mean [by that]? Every [commercial] activity [already occurring] on cantonment land will also need to end,” he added.
“You’re sitting in Islamabad, how can you know anything about what is happening here [in Karachi]?” wondered the chief justice.
“Go visit all the cantonment areas and notify them that the land will henceforth only be used for strategic and defense purposes,” he ordered.
“The Masroor and Kaemari bases have been converted into commercial [land],” remarked the chief justice.
“When we instructed the [authorities] to take down signboards, they instead erected tall buildings behind them,” he said.
The CJP questioned Defence Secretary about the activities being conducted on military lands. “This land was given to you for strategic and defence [purposes and yet] you have started commercial activities on it,” he said.
“Were wedding halls, cinemas and housing societies built for defence purposes?” CJP Ahmed asked. He remarked that all Askari housing projects had been built on cantonment lands.
“We have decided that this will not happen again,” the defence secretary said, adding that the construction of housing societies and commercial use of military land would be checked and stopped.
At this, Justice Amin asked Mian Hilal Hussain how that would be made possible and where the process would start. The judge asked him to provide a written explanation.
The chief justice commented that colonels and majors were acting like kings. “What the colonels and majors desire, happens,” he said.
“Go and tell all the chiefs [of the armed forces] that the land meant for defence purposes will not be used for commercial objectives. Go to all the military cantonments and tell them the land will be used only for strategic purposes,” CJP Ahmed ordered the defence secretary.
He also said that commercial activities were underway at Masroor Base and Faisal Base and tall buildings had been erected when orders were given to remove signboards.
The bench asked Hussain whether he had a written report regarding the matter, at which the secretary requested more time to submit the same.
The court adjourned the hearing until November 30, saying it would take place in Islamabad and also ordered that a written report be submitted.