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Chief Justice (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Thursday gave the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) a 10-day deadline to restore a public park near the residence of former finance minister Ishaq Dar which was altered to build a road leading to his house.
A three-member Supreme Court (SC) bench, headed by the chief justice, was hearing a suo motu case regarding the alteration of the park in order to build a road ─ on Dar's request ─ leading to his house. The LDA had taken over 1 kanal and 6 marlas of the park to build the road.
"On whose behest did you ruin the park to build a road?" Justice Nisar asked the LDA director general (DG), who told the court that he had received a verbal request from the former minister.
The CJP lashed out at the DG for "becoming a slave of the ministers" and told him that he had committed an offence and could be prosecuted by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) under Section 9 of the body's ordinance, which concerns Corruption and Corrupt Policies.
The DG LDA offered an unconditional apology ─ which was dismissed by Justice Nisar ─ and requested the court not to forward the case to NAB.
Justice Umar Ata Bandial said that if the bench did not send the case to NAB, it would "set a bad example". However, he told the DG to restore the park first and let the court consider the matter.
The court issued notices to Dar and the LDA, and also ordered authorities to publish an advertisement in Dawn to summon Dar, who is already facing ex-parte trial proceedings in a corruption reference related to owning assets beyond his known sources of income, and has been declared an absconder by an accountability court.
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Comments (59) Closed
Mar 22, 2018 02:53pm
Thanks to CJP for restoring justice and harnessing these corrupt officers and politicians
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Mar 22, 2018 02:58pm
Thank you CJP for taking care of public. Those who take votes from public hardly care about public when they return to power.
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Mar 22, 2018 03:00pm
It seems that no pakistani government official is honest. That is so sad!
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Mar 22, 2018 03:00pm
I reluctantly applaud the SC for protecting citizen's interest. I say reluctantly only because politicians who should be protecting my interest are actually the culprits. All such thieves must be brought to book whether they are politicians, generals, bureaucrats or judges.
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Mar 22, 2018 03:02pm
good work SC. We need similar action against IK illegal construction in bani gala as well
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Mar 22, 2018 03:03pm
So much corruption, thank you Supreme Court for restoring the trust of public in your prestigious institution.
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Mar 22, 2018 03:10pm
Hope CJP will take suo motto notice for the number of parks which are turned into marriiage halls in Karachi and not only order to demolish but bring the culprit to Justice with exemplary punishment.
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Mar 22, 2018 03:10pm
Of course, the whole administration is enslaved and a fairly reasonable and developing democratic process has been paralysed and the country converted into a hopeless and miserable personal property of this gang of thieves. The Supreme Court has reasserted itself and doing what must be done. People at large must prevail over individuals and their whims. Thank you Supreme Court of Pakistan.
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Mar 22, 2018 03:13pm
Thanks to CJP for restoring justice and establishing rule of law.
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Mar 22, 2018 03:16pm
@Zahid - Let the court decide whether its "illegal construction" or not. Don't you judge!
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Mar 22, 2018 03:19pm
Seems no one will be spared, so better anyone who has stolen money, property or have done illegal activities or being involved in corrupt practices must surrender before the SC, otherwise the court will deal with them iron hands.
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Mar 22, 2018 03:20pm
LDA Director general should be meted out an exemplary punishment and Ishaq Dar should be asked to repay the money to national exchequer which was used to build the road. Criminals in this country are not only looting the poor people but then are spending the tax payers money to sustain their life style. Dar should be ashamed of himself.
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Mar 22, 2018 03:23pm
These are only 'minor' examples of misuse of authority, power and trust of public, public interests and rights have been ruthlessly violated by this breed of Royal minded public servants. Well done SC.
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Mar 22, 2018 03:27pm
Thanks CJP sahib. There was also another corruot politician from PMLN who ordered an unnecessary long curve in Lahore-Islamabad motorway to get it pass through his residence thus prolonging the total travel time significantly to many unnecessary minutes.
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Mar 22, 2018 03:27pm
@Zahid - Let the court decide whether its "illegal construction" or not.
Don't you judge!
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Mar 22, 2018 03:39pm
Ruining a park is the least of the problems created by PML-N. They've ruined the nation, its reputation, its credit-worthiness, its foreign relations and alliances. They should all be barred from playing politics in Pakistan - like Altaf Hussain - prosecuted to recover looted wealth and damages, than thrown into jail for a generation or two.
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Mar 22, 2018 03:42pm
Bravo CJP. Salute you
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Mar 22, 2018 03:42pm
Great CJ - he is giving people the chance to redeem themselves.. if they don’t then he punishes... good approach !
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Mar 22, 2018 03:43pm
I love this CJ. Jinnah would have been proud of him.
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Mar 22, 2018 03:47pm
Why not to make him an example so in future no Govt official should be at beck and call of these corrupt politicians.
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Mar 22, 2018 03:48pm
when is the Gentleman Respected Mr Dar visiting Pakistan? I am praying he gets well soon so that we can see him in the SC to prove his innocence.
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Mar 22, 2018 03:59pm
Who pays for restoring the park. More public money spent ??
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Mar 22, 2018 04:06pm
Still many think PMLN is honest party. Shame on these voters. They are the reason why pakistan is in this sad state of affairs.
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Mar 22, 2018 04:07pm
what about the road to Jaati Umra? Don't want half justice.
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Mar 22, 2018 04:10pm
Dar, the Samdhi belongs to the royal family and was entitled to the privileges like the rest of the royal members.
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Mar 22, 2018 04:12pm
What would be the hand of the deep state in this case? The alteration of the park or the restoration?
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Mar 22, 2018 04:18pm
Additional charge must be added to the existing list of charges against this offender named Ishaq Dar.
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Mar 22, 2018 04:20pm
@Jamal - The court ordered Ishaq Dar to pay for it.
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Mar 22, 2018 04:21pm
@Zahid in what form is bani gala illegal? Care to explain?
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Mar 22, 2018 04:23pm
@Jamal ...should be paid out of Poor Dar's pocket...
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Mar 22, 2018 04:28pm
SC should make sure LDA DG pay all restoration charges along with alteration charges to court so that can spend on public. PMLN should also be leveled with hefty fines. Shame on LDA shame on sharif,s pupit bureaucracy.
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Mar 22, 2018 04:29pm
Well done CJ. Please also look into affairs of Islamabad, where land mafia with the help of CDA has been active in grabbing government land.
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Mar 22, 2018 04:35pm
Than you CJ.
PMLN would still say CJ is interfering in govt matters. Can you see the DG LDA is saying he did this on " verbal request of Dar". Shame on LDA and all govt slaves/officers.
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Mar 22, 2018 04:36pm
This has to do more with misuse of authority and funds than corruption. The Federal Minister orders LDA director and who is he to refuse or risk reprimand .... It is not that Dar would have paid any money to the LDA director for carving out a road specifically for him .........
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Mar 22, 2018 04:42pm
thank you CJP. love you
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Mar 22, 2018 04:43pm
@sajid I strongly believe there are many but a handful of the corrupt ones are holding the office and don't let the good ones make their way up.
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Mar 22, 2018 04:44pm
but there should be zero tolerance. they should be such a punishmet which set example for others
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Mar 22, 2018 04:46pm
Is it unusual in Pak? They day the people of Pakistan realize that these politicians are supposed to be the servants of the people of Pakistan and not their rulers, all these problems will be solved.
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Mar 22, 2018 05:03pm
@IAB "This has to do more with misuse of authority and funds than corruption." What else is corruption???
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Mar 22, 2018 05:54pm
PML N is over.
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Mar 22, 2018 06:00pm
No wonder Pakistani economy has been suffering and average person is getting poorer. It is because those corrupt officials are busy hording money to cause big losses to the nation's treasury.
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Mar 22, 2018 06:37pm
May this CJP along with jjustice remain for years to come with good results to Pakistan.
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Mar 22, 2018 06:39pm
Please look at the Clifton road in front of Bilalwal house in Karachi.
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Mar 22, 2018 06:47pm
The Justices are requested to prison all political leadership whose life style changed from coming in politics, recover the money like Saudi Prince did.
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Mar 22, 2018 08:09pm
Where is Ishaq Dar''s house located ?
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Mar 22, 2018 09:17pm
unless officials who become tool of politicians are punished, bureaucracy will not learn lesson.
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Mar 22, 2018 10:03pm
CJP you are great
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Mar 23, 2018 08:03am
@aAleem ... If people don't have the public parks where they take their children outside to enjoy themselves.
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Mar 23, 2018 09:37am
CJP and supreme court making history on a daily basis.
good on you Justice Nisar. Where have you been up til now?
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Mar 23, 2018 02:56pm
I hope it would be a great example to those who can understand the reality. I further hope that same practice will continue by Hon Chief Justice in other field to curb the corruption.
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Mar 23, 2018 02:56pm
Like Karachi they have destroyed public parks and grounds in Lahore too! Doings of the 21st century Mughals!
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Mar 23, 2018 03:37pm
@Zahid And who was the witness who alleged he had not given permission and his signature was forged on the permission papers? A government official belonging to PMLN! Even assuming he is telling the truth, where has he been for the last 30+ years and why did not have the Bani Gala dwellings removed?
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Mar 23, 2018 04:00pm
We are waiting for bigger Judgments, 6 months have passed, lets hope for the best!
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Mar 23, 2018 04:11pm
Thank you Chief Justice of Pakistan for creating environments for returning to Normalcy in our country .Please also take Notice of the Ugly high wall between the roads near Billaw House.Let Pakistan return to normalcy and join the community of great Nations in the world.Thank you CJ.
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Mar 23, 2018 07:29pm
Salute to SC of Pakistan for its bravery against unlawfully rich and powerful. Indian SC should learn from you .
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Mar 23, 2018 08:58pm
There is a limit to everything. Will we have to consult for such petty issues even to the Supreme Court? All the institutions are dead? When was the funeral held?
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Mar 23, 2018 11:09pm
Restore the park then return Dar to Pakistan recover the millions and spend it on healthcare for the poor.
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Mar 24, 2018 06:34am
Pakistani cities do not have open spaces. Any alteration to public places should be a prosecutable offense.
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Mar 24, 2018 07:12am
@Jamal deduct it all from Dar assets, sell them all off.
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