City Reporter
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday set aside recent allotment of plots after a ‘balloting process’ to the judges of the district judiciary and those who have earlier worked at the IHC.
Chief Justice Athar Minallah announced the order while hearing a case titled ‘Asif Parvez etc vs Land Acquisition Controller, ICT.”
The petitioners had agitated that their names were included in the list submitted by the respondent during the proceeding of the court.
Moreover it was also argued that the Federal Government Employees Housing Authority (FGEHA) had settled the terms and conditions pursuant to an agreement with the affected landowners, the court order further observed.
The court directed the Attorney General and Secretary Ministry of Housing & Works to seek instructions from Prime Minister and Members of the Federal Cabinet regarding if there existed a policy whereof the state land is distributed among a few cronies.
The court observed since matter of public interest is raised it would be better if a larger bench could hear it.
“Till the next date is fixed the allotments made in favour of judicial officers who are serving or have served in this court or the district courts of Islamabad remain suspended and not acted upon.
The respondents are restrained from evicting the petitioners till the date fixed” thus spake the judgment.
It may be mentioned here the federal government (FGEHA) had approved allotments of plots to judges, SAPMs and others a couple of days earlier.
