*ISLAMABAD:* Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) has disposed off the petitionin the expansion of the US Embassy in Islamabad.
SC rejected a Constitutional petition against the expansion of UnitedStates’ embassy in the federal capital, observing that none of the rightsof the petitioner were violated, and therefore, the petition is notmaintainable.
Heading a three-member bench, Justice Nisar observed that it is a directpolicy matter.
Petitioner Zafarullah Khan, a lawyer and chairman of Watan Party, hadapproached the apex court in 2009, praying the apex court to ask thegovernment to verify the allegation that a hotel was being constructed inthe US embassy.
Appearing before the court, Barrister Zafarullah Khan argued that the US isconstructing a hotel inside the embassy which is in clear violation ofinternational rules and conventions. The bench then asked the petitionerwhether those conventions are part of domestic laws.
Justice Nisar said these are direct policy matters and asked the petitionerto point out the fundamental rights which he claims were violated by theconstruction of the embassy. The petitioner referred to Article 9 of theConstitution which pertains to the right to life.
Meanwhile, Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Sohail Mahmood referred to thecourt order dated March 21, 2009, wherein it was stated that the court willexamine the maintainability of the petition.
After a brief hearing, the bench dismissed the petition, saying that norights of the petitioner were violated, hence the petition is notmaintainable.
On March 26, the apex court had decided to examine a report by the CapitalDevelopment Authority (CDA) on March 28 on the US embassy’s constructionplan to build a basement and a new seven-story office building.