ISLAMABAD – The Islamabad High Court on Wednesday declared the constructionof naval golf course in the Margalla Hills National Park area illegal andordered the Ministry of Defence to probe the case.
IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah issued a detailed verdict in a casepertaining to illegal constructions at the protected land, which waswrapped in January this year.
The court also turned down the Military Directorate Farms’s claim on over8,000 acres of land of the park, besides terming its contract with MonalRestaurant illegal.
It also ordered the defence ministry to conduct a forensic audit to assessthe losses inflected on the national exchequer due to illegal constructions.
The 108-page verdict also featured a report of the EnvironmentalCommission. The court said that it is the responsibility of state andpublic office holders to ensure protection of the Margalla Hills.
The court also lamented at the involvement of state institutions inencroachment of notified protected areas.
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Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Army have violated the enforced laws, the courtsaid, adding that the encroachment case is a prime example of damaging ruleof law and empowering elites.
The court remarked that the state should take measures to compensate thedamages in order to protect the Margalla Hills from further destruction.
The court issued short verdict in the case on January 11, 2022.
