LAHORE: The Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar reprimanded on Thursday the Lahore Development Authority Director General Zahid Akhtar Zaman for allowing a portion of a park to be uprooted to build a road near the house of former finance minister Ishaq Dar.
A three-member bench of the Supreme Court Lahore Registry, headed by Chief Justice Nisar, had summoned the LDA official after taking suo motu notice of the road a day before.
A portion of the park near Dar’s Lahore residence had been uprooted to build a road which leads directly to his house. However, the road is said to be prohibited for public use.
While referring to DG Zaman, the CJP questioned with whose authority LDA allow the road to be built over the park area?
“Ishaq Dar had requested to make the road outside his house wider for parking,” replied DG Zaman. The CJP then asked if the former finance minister had written an official request to the authority, to which the DG replied: “Dar had directed me to make the road over the phone.”
The response irked Chief Justice Nisar, who remarked that the official should also be investigated as per the law of National Accountability Bureau.
“What kind of officer are you? Just on one phone call by a minister, you uprooted a park? You will have to pay the price. I won’t let favouritism work here. You should be investigated as per NAB law.”
The DG then apologised unconditionally before the court, but the CJP remarked: “The time for apologies as passed.”
The CJP then ordered DG Zaman to detail how the park was built in a written statement and submit it to the court. “Bring all the records as well as your oath.”
On Wednesday, Chief Justice Nisar had taken the suo motu notice of a portion of a park being uprooted to build a road leading to Ishaq Dar’s residence.
Notices were issued to DG LDA, deputy commissioner Lahore and the Punjab government. The CJP had asked the authorities as per what law the park had been uprooted to build the road.
