September 03, 2008	Wednesday	Ramazan 2, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Sept 2: The caretaker government of Muhammadmian Soomro, who is now acting president, approved a move to condone the ‘misuse’ of military land over the past six decades, giving a legal cover to all irregularities which cannot be legally or administratively challenged.

The action was taken on March 13, 2008, during the tenure of Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf on a summary moved by the ministry of defence titled ‘use of A-1 land for commercial and welfare activities by the three Services and Canteen Stores Department’.

The caretaker cabinet’s approval was necessitated because the Departmental Accounts Committee of the Ministry of Defence and the Public Accounts Committee had termed the practice ‘misuse of military land’ and raised objections.

Documents show that military authorities sold or leased out state land worth several billion rupees for commercial gains since the enactment of the Cantonment Land Rules of 1937 although the land was only for departmental use.

Besides condoning the commercial use of military land, the move also allows the military authorities to convert agricultural land into residential plots and set up large stores, shopping and recreational areas, stadiums, clubs, petrol pumps, marriage halls, cattle markets, small- to medium-sized industrial units and educational institutions.

Under the decision, a new policy has been devised to change the rent collection mechanism.

“All activities (use of military land) undertaken so far on A-1 land shall be governed by the new policy with immediate effect. The rent shall be fixed for the current financial year and accounted for in the light of the above policy. As a one-time measure, deposit of rent … before the implementation of this policy is condoned and all such activities undertaken so far stand regularised as fait accompli cases.”

The document says that in future, no welfare project would be initiated without prior approval of the respective armed services chiefs and all activities on A-1 land “will be managed by respective formations under the direct supervision of the formation commander concerned and will be governed by a policy approved by the respective service chief”.

The summary that was presented to the caretaker cabinet suggested that the commercial use of military land fell under three categories.

CATEGORY ‘A’: Under this category, military lands could be used to set up large stores and shopping areas, petrol pumps, CNG stations, restaurants, marriage halls, joy lands, printing presses, ice factories, cattle markets in the Fortress Stadium, Lahore, PAF Shopping Centre, Lahore, Sher Khan Stadium, Peshawar, and the Navy Fleet Club, Karachi.

According to the document, 25 per cent of the rent will be deposited into the government treasury and the rest will be utilised by the respective formation/establishment (military authorities) in accordance with the policy to be laid out by respective services chiefs – COAS/CAS/CNS.

CATEGORY ‘B’: Under this category, land can be used for troops’ welfare like shops, grocery stores, bakeries, canteens, cafes, post offices, PCOs, ATMs, educational and training institutions, hostels, museums, libraries, recreational parks, cinemas, CSD and other related activities.

CATEGORY ‘C’: The use of land under this category includes agro-based activities like nurseries and orchards, crop cultivation and setting up of poultry, cattle and fish farms.

In case of agricultural land, the rent will be fixed separately for irrigated and rain-dependent lands and “complete rent so fixed shall be deposited into the government treasury”.

Former MNA and member of the Pubic Accounts Committee Kunwar Khalid Yunus said that the matter had first been put before the committee two years ago. The committee had raised several objections which the military authorities could not come up with satisfactorily answer.

He said the audit department had cited some instances in which the land meant for shooting and gun ranges was used for commercial purpose and some land in rural areas was included in urban areas where housing was allowed.

Inter Services Public Relation (ISPR) officials said the new land use policy had been devised under the directives of DAC and PAC.

“After lengthy exercise with the Military Lands, the Cantonment Department and the Ministry of Defence a new policy was framed,” they said.

“Although in accordance with the rules of business, the defence secretary, being the principal accounting officer of the armed forces, could have approved the policy, but in order to ensure greater transparency it was presented before the federal cabinet for consideration.

“After exhaustive discussion, the policy was unanimously approved,” an official said.

The land would continue to be considered A-1 category and it could be reverted whenever required by the army or the government, he said.