ISLAMABAD – Amid Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar’s major focuson mitigating water crisis by building dams, Chief Executive of Bahria TownMalik Riaz on Thursday informed the court that he was willing to constructthe Daducha Dam at his own expenses with a condition that bureaucracy ofPunjab would not interfere in it.
A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by the Chief Justice andcomprising Justice Umer Ata Bandyal and Justice Ijazul Ahsen, heard a suomoto case regarding disobedience of its order on building of Daducha andPapeem Dams to overcome water related issues in Rawalpindi.
The court the other day while hearing a case regarding farmhouses in thefederal capital had asked Barrister Aitizaz Ahsan, counsel of Malik Riazwho owns one of the farmhouses, as to which dam was not yet built inRawalpindi despite the court ruling.
Ahsan replied that it was the Daducha Dam, to which, the court issuednotice to Punjab government till August 2.
On Thursday, Malik Riaz, who is petition in the case, appeared before thecourt along with his counsel in the instant matter.
Ahsan informed the apex court that the work on the dam, which was proposedby Rawalpindi Development Authority (RWA) and SDO of the said village,could not be initiated, due to issues related to land where the dam was tobe constructed.
He informed that the government of Punjab had allocated a land for theconstruction of the dam; however, the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) andBahria Town purchased some of the land where the dam was to be built andlaunched a housing scheme as a joint venture with Bahria Town, The Newsreported.
Replying to a question, Riaz 20 percent of the land at the dam site isowned by Bahria Town. His counsel informed the court that they haddemarcated the site for the said dam other than Site 1 which the governmenthad allocated.
In 2015, the Supreme Court took up the matter and gave verdict againstBahria Town, ordering the provincial government to construct the dam atproposed location. Following the verdict, a ban was imposed on sale andpurchase of the land in the area.
Aitizaz Ahsen, during the hearing, said that a review petition pendingbefore the top court should be settled by forming a larger bench.
He further said that they want that land should be acquired to them forbuilding the Dhadocha Dam. He also assured the court that the dam will beconstructed within a year. He said that international consultants will behired for this and their fees will be paid by Bahria Town.
To which, Chief Justice directed him to submit a written proposal in thisregard, besides issuing notice to the Punjab government for notconstructing dam on Site 1 despite court orders seeking a reply from it inthree weeks.
When Malik Riaz asked the chief justice to refrain bureaucracy frominterference in dam work if Bahria Town takes it up, the chief justiceasked Malik Riaz to use good words for bureaucracy as he reached at hisposition due to this bureaucracy. Riaz replied that Allah has blessed mewith success not the bureaucrats.