ISLAMABAD (APP)- A Single Bench of Islamabad High Court (IHC) announced its verdict in the land acquisition case by binding the state institutions that the acquisition period should not exceed three years. A Single Bench of Justice Syed Qalb-I-Hassan announced its decision in a writ petition filed by Raja Safeer Ahmed against Ministry of Defence. In its decision, the Court said that the notice issued by the competent authority should not be for indefinite period, affecting land transaction in a particular area. It says that any order passed against land transaction will become ineffective after the lapse of set period. Syed Iftikhar Hussain Gillani, senior advocate of Supreme Court and counsel for the petitioner, had apprised the Bench that Ministry of Defence through a notification confiscated about 2,000 acres of land near Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Sciences and Technology at Lethrar Road. He said that the step by the concerned authorities was ultra vires to Constitution and it was not permissible by the law of the land. He said such notification can be issued when a construction near sensitive area pose a hinderance in its functioning. "But here an owner of the land has been denied of his right to utilize his piece of land," he added. Gillani also claimed that this step also brought down the prices of land resulting in financial problems for the owner of lands. Counsels for the ministry defended the step by stating that the laws did exist to acquire public property and equal compensation had been done to the affected owners after determining its market prices. They informed that under Work of Defence Act, 1903, government was entitled to issue a notification about acquisition of land falling within the proximity of 2,000 meters of its installations. The law also permitted that no construction activity should take place in that area without permission from the concerned authorities, they added. They said that any activity posing security hazards would be stopped under the same law. About compensation they said, a collector appointed by the government would determine decrease in prices of land if occurred but surely he would take all the issues in consideration while making compensation. The Court had reserved judgment over the issue last month. Mixed reactions on first working day after clock advancement ISLAMABAD, Jun 2 (APP): The working class of twin cities expresses mingling reactions on the first working day after clock advancement. The clocks have been set forward by an hour under the daylight saving time system from June 01. The system was implemented as part of the government's energy saving campaign to overcome the energy crisis. The Daylight Saving Times (DST) is used to save the energy by extending day light reducing the need to use artificial lightening. "It will bring better results for the reason that people will come out early for work and they will return early having an extra hour for their leisure activities", said Shaista, a working lady. The lack of awareness among the masses about DST system has made many of them annoyed as the schedule of prayers was disturbed because of change in the time, she added. "People need time to get adjusted to the new routine. It is a new concept for the citizens but it carries benefits and proper use of sunlight can save much needed energy", said Usman, an official of a government department. Advancing clocks is a good experience bringing changes in our daily routine. Arriving offices an hour earlier would save us from scorching heat, said Ghazala, another working women. The newly implemented system would also help in saving energy during the peak summer season. However, clocks would be brought back to the actual time on August 31. "Advancing clock would be a sigh of relief in summer season for the office going staff who usually start their duty at sharp 9 a.m. as it will save us from severe heat at the peak of summer," said Hummad Hussain, an official. DST or summer time in British English is the convention of advancing clocks so that afternoons have more daylight and mornings have less. Typically clocks are adjusted forward one hour near the start of spring and are adjusted backward in autumn. Modern DST was first proposed in 1907 by William Willett.