Justice Gulzar Ahmed admonishes development authorities for 'ruining Islamabad'
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Justice Gulzar Ahmed on Friday directed the chairman of Capital Development Authority (CDA) to launch a criminal investigation against officials suspected of being involved in misconduct.
The judge, who is set to become the Chief Justice of Pakistan on December 21, also told the chairman to recover money from those officials who have caused financial losses to the body. He made these remarks during a Supreme Court hearing pertaining to encroachments by Centaurus Mall.
During the hearing, Justice Ahmed lashed out against capital authorities for "ruining Islamabad" and regretted that the construction of high-rise buildings had been approved on directions by politicians.
"Don't earthquakes hit this city?" he inquired.
He regretted that there was almost no public transport in the capital since 1960.
"There is one shaking Metro running [in Islamabad]. There is no rickshaw in sight," he observed. "Bring in rickshaws, show people your culture."
The judge also expressed annoyance at overseas Pakistanis' "refusal to work in the country".
"Overseas Pakistanis are running the transport system in London. Our best town planners have gone to America and Canada. They say that they cannot work in a jungle. Their refusal [to work in Pakistan] is a slap on their and the country's face."
The judge also pointed out the deteriorating situation of the capital's roads and said: "One fears of running into a footpath while driving on the Kashmir Highway."
Justice Ahmed told National Highway Authority chairman to present a report on the action taken in accordance with the court's orders. He also directed the interior secretary to submit a report on solutions to administrative problems.
The hearing was adjourned for six weeks.
Justice Ahmed will assume charge as the country's top judge on December 21, a day after the retirement of the incumbent CJP Asif Saeed Khosa. He is hearing multiple cases pertaining to illegal encroachments in Karachi and Islamabad.
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On DawnNews
Dec 06, 2019 02:25pm
Unfortunately the government has failed miserably, they can't even do the things that doesn't need billions of rupees! Even Lahore has the same issue, apart from lack of civil sense from the public, govt has failed to carry out its obligations.
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Dec 06, 2019 02:27pm
Good work Justice sahab. One of the most corrupt departments of the country.
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Dec 06, 2019 02:29pm
'"Overseas Pakistanis are running the transport system in London. Our best town planners have gone to America and Canada. They say that they cannot work in a jungle. Their refusal [to work in Pakistan] is a slap on their and the country's face."
Don't attack those who remit 40%of total foreign exchange to country from their hard work and keep it economically afloat.
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Dec 06, 2019 02:29pm
Against a planned maximum population of 285,000 inhabitants at full development of the City, Islamabad is housing over 2,000,000 people, who are forced to squeeze into the land and services of less than 10 % capability. Traffic growth has made all roads and intersections, nightmares for pliers of over 1,000,000 vehicles on roads planned and designed for a maximum of 50,000 are daily test of nerves of the inhabitants....
In view of the reasons given above,is it not prudent to consider shifting of Capital to a more conducive and appropriate location than Islamabad? Quite obviously,we can not presently afford it.Therefore,the only option is, to correct the situation, to the extent possible.
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Dec 06, 2019 02:30pm
'"Overseas Pakistanis are running the transport system in London. Our best town planners have gone to America and Canada. They say that they cannot work in a jungle. Their refusal [to work in Pakistan] is a slap on their and the country's face."
They don't come because the kind of issues at hand that you are dealing with right now. Clean that and law order, and many would return.
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Dec 06, 2019 02:39pm
Now the judge will decide if you should have rickshaws in the city or not !!
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Dec 06, 2019 02:55pm
Does anyone in Pakistan have a degree in city planning?
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Dec 06, 2019 02:55pm
Dear Judge,
With due request,I request you to spare some moments for the biggest city in Pakistan and the largest tax payers of Pakistan i.e. Karachi.
Our transport is worst in Pakistan.Our lives are being ruined by the poor sanitary conditions.
Dear Judge,
We, Karachites, have been paying your salaries since ages but you all fatties are bullying us by giving remarks on already well maintained Islamabad? Have some shame and take suo moto on Karachi transport at-least.
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Dec 06, 2019 02:55pm
If Pakistanis lost most of their wealth somehwere, it's in real estate. These development authorities work for illegal housing societies by hiding critical information from general public after skimming their share. The court must order development authorities to publish up-to-date websites (with all critical information) on all legal and illegal housing societies in their respective jurisdictions. It's not just about ruining master-plan, it's also about depriving middle class and overseas Pakistanis of their life-long savings.
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Dec 06, 2019 02:58pm
In a year and a half pti has runied islamabad with its incompetence.
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Dec 06, 2019 03:01pm
Now he doesn’t speak about innocent people behind bars because they can’t afford to bail themselves out, hypocrisy.
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Dec 06, 2019 03:13pm
Has he lost the plot ??
Since when did Rickshaw become our culture? Rickshaws are a cancer for several types of pollution, traffic and cause more damage than the perceived benefit. I'm writing this as someone who has travelled in rickshaws in my student life myself. We need to provide other mediums of economically viable travel solutions. Islamabad never needed public transport as it was a very small town.
It has expanded since 1990s and there are services running in terms of buses. Metro may be poor but what is done, is done. It contributes or has the capacity to contribute if it's run well. Make do with what you have, don't create more problems and leave running the state, to the government, and focus on incompetences within judicial system to improve it.
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Dec 06, 2019 03:55pm
Well misleading and silly comments from justice gulzar, brinf in rickshaws and make the city another lahore or delhi full of pollution. Regarding high rise buildings, with proper building code followed there should be no worry.
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Dec 06, 2019 04:11pm
CDA officials work for themselves. There is no plan and no desire to work.
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Dec 06, 2019 04:19pm
Excellent! Make the country public friendly not VIP friendly.
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Dec 06, 2019 04:23pm
Overseas Pakistanis come in different colors. Most are honest who work very hard and send money back from their hard earned wages making constructive contributions to Pakistani economy. In comparison, there are 'some', usually VVIPs and their family member Pakistanis who take with them (i.e. smugge) 'overseas' suitcases and boxes full of foreign currency in broad day light. Some caught smuggling huge amounts of cash $s easily slip out w/o any consequences. ~200M$ laundered money has not only just recently been discovered but also recovered in UK and handed over to Pakistan but the named person in Pakistan proudly claims he is still innocent and clean. Honorable Sir, please help us understand which type of overseas Pakistanis have you referred to in your statement.
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Dec 06, 2019 04:46pm
Intentions are clearly visible expect interesting times ahead.
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Dec 06, 2019 04:50pm
Justice Sahib,
Calm down Sir, before you make such grandeur statements about overseas Pakistani who do not want to work in Pakistan.In order to get a job you have to know the Minister or Chief Minister and you have money to bribe them. We have got a job or started a business we have done with hard work and at our merits. Before you thrown stone at someone else look at your judiciary first, there are millions and millions cases in these blessed courts and nothing is being done. I give you my example, I was kid in school in 6th grade Padidan Sind and there was case land sale of my family which went to the court which won many times . The other party appeals are still going on and the case is still in the courts and I am now 60yr old Medical Director working in USA. Sir, put your house in order first before you dare to talk about overseas Pakistani refusing to come back to work in their home country.
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Dec 06, 2019 05:06pm
Following measures are proposed to tackle some of the Islamabad's growing problems:
a) Judicious utilization of available lands and suitably enhanced provision of services by adopting such modern techniques as "horizontal development". Earthquake prone area demands construction of Shock-proof high-rise buildings. Modern techniques of climbing form-work construction, prefabricated modular construction, provision of Monorail and metro-rails,etc.should be adopted.
b) Converting all weathered and perched lands into a beautifully "terraced and gabioned" landscape with small water ponds and streams
c) Using the cool groundwater in making "Montreal Type" water cooling system for the city,which would reduce the electricity and gas bills by almost 50%.
d) Islamabad has appropriate soils that can be used in making structures on the pattern of "ant-hills",that maintain uniform temperature of about 78 degrees Fahrenheit without air conditioning,that can be adapted by experimentation.
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Dec 06, 2019 05:13pm
@Zak, I totally agree. I want to work in Pakistan but there is so much corruption in Pakistan and people sitting in government offices make your life so difficult to carry out any kind of business unless you know the "right people". Gulzar sahib create an atmosphere for us the overseas Pakistanis to work in Pakistan first.
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Dec 06, 2019 05:20pm
With all due respect, but sir please don't bring rikshaws back. Even try to remove those which you already have and provide some other safe and respectable public transport.
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Dec 06, 2019 05:20pm
His tenure is going to be the most unreasonable in recent history, judges see themselves as Qazis giving lectures on morality but miserably fail when dispensing actual justice
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Dec 06, 2019 05:23pm
He wants to see the old Karachi of the 60’s. I hope and pray he does not want the for Islamabad as the city did not exist then!
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Dec 06, 2019 05:50pm
This guy is setting up to be a daily newsmaker during his tenure at the top. Cue the suo motos!
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Dec 06, 2019 05:55pm
@Adnan Saleem, because government has failed completely.
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Dec 06, 2019 06:04pm
Very right @ M. Saeed
Rickshaws? Unbelievable. Please don’t.
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Dec 06, 2019 06:09pm
@Adnan Saleem, exactly.
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Dec 06, 2019 06:31pm
Rickshaw in Islamabad, seriously!!
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Dec 06, 2019 07:43pm
Our dear justice Gulzar Ahmed sahib. Please go to different capitals cities of modern countries and see how the capital city has to look like. Capital city is usually a signature city of the country and get some advise from Malik Riaz -- the most experienced and visionary town planner. Do not impose what you thing is good or bad for Islamabad . Humble request
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Dec 06, 2019 08:25pm
Everyone need to clean Islamabaf otherwise it will become another trashy city
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Dec 06, 2019 09:00pm
@Adnan Saleem, read between the lines : soon to be CJP and with almost unlimited powers . Many interesting rulings will be made and similar to Former CJP Saqib Nisar - just a guess - but very soon we all will find out ! Just stay tune .
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Dec 06, 2019 09:05pm
What about Bani Gala..PM's residence...built on...?
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Dec 06, 2019 09:45pm
MR CJ, please concentrate on efficient delivery of justice rather than getting involved in matters other than judicial services!!
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Dec 06, 2019 09:55pm
I retired from California Department of Transportation this July after working for twenty years. Pakistan being my home country I have been visiting regularly.
My observation is:
1) No planning, substandard design and construction coupled with deep corruption.
2) Encroachment of public right of way. In Pakistan public and administration has no concept of right of way.
Please no offense to anyone.
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Dec 06, 2019 10:01pm
@Adnan Saleem, Other cities are limiting the rickshaws from entering the main streets, remember the tanga's ? They no longer exist, only in small towns and on old GT roads,last I remember, the rickshaws made too much noise, smoked too much, caused traffic issues, the poor guys who owned rickshaws were made to replace their engines to 4 stoke. Now they want to see rickshaws again?
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Dec 06, 2019 10:03pm
@M. Saeed, You figures are decades old brother, in case you haven't noticed, Islamabad has grown a lot, its hard to tell when you are leaving Rawalpindi and entering Islamabad, I remember it used to take 30 to 45 minutes to get to Islamabad
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Dec 06, 2019 10:09pm
Now we are scolding overseas Pakistanis, eh. Our parents left Pakistan due to cronism, nepotism and corruption during Bhuttos and the Zia's regime.
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Dec 06, 2019 11:49pm
The judge should slap those who are running Pakistan instead of using derogatory words against the overseas Pakistanis who are providing the foreign exchange to pay the salaries of the government officials and of the judges. Why would they work in Pakistan where they are not allowed to use their talent and where no jobs are available because of Self serving incompetents running the show ?
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Dec 07, 2019 02:37am
Good move
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Dec 07, 2019 03:28pm
No let's not bring in Rickshaws !
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