ISLAMABAD: Chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar Friday directed the officials concerned to submit a detailed report on the illegal constructions – established or being established – in various areas of Murree tehsil of the Rawalpindi district. He directed the Supreme Court’s Human Rights Cell director to convert the application against illegal constructions in different areas of Murree to a petition under Article 184 (3) of the constitution. “Murree too is becoming a Raja Bazaar,” the chief justice remarked, in reference to the commercial district of Rawalpindi. The application about increasing illegal constructions in Murree was filed by a public sector officer deputed in Murree. According to application, illegal constructions were underway in Murree in violation of the apex court orders. “Illegal constructions were causing deforestation. Besides, encroachments were also increasing with the each passing day.” Earlier on October 20, a three-member Supreme Court bench had imposed a 20-day ban on all kinds of construction work, including development projects and housing schemes, in the national park areas of Murree, Kotli Sattian and Kahuta. The court had directed the authorities concerned to present a comprehensive compliance report on the matter. According to reports, the Town Municipal Administration (TMA) had published a list of 30 illegal housing societies, which had denuded a vast area of forest land. People were asked by TMA not to invest in such societies. Reports quoting officials concerned said that about 12,384 kanals of the forest land had been encroached upon by housing societies, with a majority of them operating illegally, in Murree.
Published in Daily Times, November 25th 2017.
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