3 more officials involved in case identified: CDA tells SC

* Court gives CDA one month more time for implementation of orders

* Review petitions of Nazria-e-Pakistan Council and McDonalds dismissed

By Masood Rehman

ISLAMABAD: A three-member Supreme Court (SC) bench was informed on Monday that three more officials of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) allegedly involved in allowing illegal constructions in F-9 Park in violation of the authority’s rules were identified.

The bench, comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Tariq Parvez and Justice Ghulam Rabbani, was hearing a case about illegal constructions at F-9 Park, Islamabad.

Appearing on notice, Secretary Establishment Division Isamil Qureshi told the court that three more CDA officials who violated the civic agency’s rule include CDA Additional Secretary Environment Kamran Ali Qureshi, Sajjad Ahmed Bhutta now DCO in Lahore and CDA Project Dr Faisal Awan Director.

CDA Chairman Imtiaz Inayat Elahi told the court that he had requested NAB to initiate cases against the delinquent officials and the matter is now pending with the NAB. He requested the court to grant two months time for full implementation of the court orders in F-9 Park case, which the court turned down and allowed one month time.

Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq told the court that CDA’s former chairman Kamran Lashari would be given right of hearing by the departmental inquiry committee. Abdul Hafeez Pirzada told the court that he wanted to appear as counsel for Kamran Lashari, but the court declined to hear him, saying the former CDA chairman should be given an opportunity to appear before the committee in order to clarify the charges against him. “We have left the matter to the department so we will not allow you to advocate Mr Lashari,” The chief justice said.

Pirzada said without hearing his client the committee had given its decision. But Attorney General said the former CDA chairman would be given right of hearing.

Dismissed: The court also dismissed the review petitions of the Nazria-e-Pakistan Council and the McDonalds. Afnan Kundi, counsel for CDA, requested the court to grant at least 45 days for re-auction of restaurant in F-9 Park. Meanwhile, the court adjourned the hearing for indefinite period hinting that now the case would be fixed after one month.