QUETTA: A division bench of the Balochistan High Court directed government departments on Monday to follow the Land Acquisition Act while acquiring private lands. The court allowed the time sought by the counsel and respondents to submit a progress report.

The bench comprising Justices Jamal Khan Mandokhel and Mohammad Ejaz Swati was hearing a petition filed by one Wadood Jamal against the executive officer of the Cantonment Board Quetta. The petitioner said that Article 24 of the Constitution did not allow any person to be deprived of his property except by following law.

The court observed that if the respondents intended to acquire the land they should follow the Land Acquisition Act and directed the government departments not to take any illegal action.

The petitioner’s counsel Mohammad Yaqoob challenged the extension of cantonment’s limit to areas of Mohal and Mouza Khushkaba Tappa Durrani.

The assistant advocate general informed the court that at a meeting the commissioner of Quetta had apprised the station commander and executive officer of the Cantonment Board Quetta about the legal proposition of lands.

The hearing was adjourned till May 15.

Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2015

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