Islamabad - The Supreme Court yesterday granted two weeks time to the federal government and the chairman CDA to shift the offices of inspectors general of Islamabad and motorways police from residential areas.
A two-member bench headed by Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed heard the suo moto case regarding blockades and the encroachments in the residential areas of the federal capital.
Secretaries for interior, communication, information technology and capital administration and development division and chairman Capital Development Authority appeared before the bench.
The interior secretary requested the court to give 2 to 3 months to shift the offices of inspectors general of Islamabad and motorways police. Justice Sh Azmat remarked if the alternate place had been allocated then the court might have accepted the request.
The judge asked the CDA chairman to submit affidavit that within two months the offices would be shifted, adding if the CDA could not take action against the IGs then open those offices which were earlier sealed.
In the last hearing the court had directed the CDA to proceed with sealing the offices of IGs Islamabad police and motorways. Justice Azmat said the court orders have not been taken seriously and sarcastically remarked whether the offices are in Pakistan.
He said if the IGs’ offices are not in Pakistan then remove the Pakistani flag from their offices. He asked the CDA chairman if he could not implement the court’s order then he should relinquish his office. The court gave CDA time till 11:30am to present viable plan for the resolution of the matter.
After the interval, Additional Attorney General Aamir Rehman representing the secretaries assured the court that the offices of IGs would be shifted from the residential areas within two months.
They told that alternate place had been specified and soon the offices would be shifted, adding the IG Islamabad police office will be shifted in Police Lines, while the inspector general motorways office would be shifted in Immigration Bureau.
The AAG asked the court to grant four weeks as wireless system has to be uninstalled from the previous buildings and have to fix in the new offices, adding the support staff have also be relocated in the new building.
The court on the assurance of secretary interior gave two-week time for shifting of both the offices from the residential areas of the capital and directed him to submit compliance the report.
The court, however, turned down the request and directed them to at least shift the IGs support staff in new buildings within two weeks.
Shahid Hamid, counsel for Capital Development Authority (CDA) while appearing before the court submitted that process of shifting of government offices as well as schools from the residential areas is under way and a detailed report will be submitted before the court on the next date of hearing.
Meanwhile, the court adjourned further hearing until April 11. The court also issued notices to Capital Development Authority (CDA) and other respondents in a matter pertaining to shifting of district courts to its allotted building.
Dr Aslam Khaki had filed a writ petition and then an intra-court appeal (ICA) seeking directions for Capital Development Authority (CDA) to allot proper land for the district courts of Islamabad. He had contended that after long litigation of about two and half years, he was successful in his ICA to get the allotment of plot of about 80 kanals of land.
He said that a building was also constructed on the said plot for the district courts Islamabad but suddenly the newly created Islamabad High Court was instituted in it, forcing the district courts of Islamabad to continue functioning in main Market of F-8 Markaz that is in violation of the dignity of the courts.
He had requested the court that the respondents including CDA and special magistrate be directed to make serious efforts to shift the district courts to its proper allotted building.
The case was adjourned till 11th April.