ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday extended the stay order against commercial activities in the Navy Sailing Club till Sept 9.

The court, however, allowed the naval officials to resume repair and maintenance of boats.

IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah resumed the hearing on the petition filed against the ‘illegal’ construction of Pakistan Navy Sailing Club at the bank of Rawal Lake.

The petitioner Zeenat Saleem claimed that the naval authorities constructed the club without obtaining mandatory approvals and also stopped public access to the lake.

Ashtar Ausaf and Raja Zahoorul Hassan advocates appeared before the court to represent chief of naval staff.

Mr Ausaf argued before the court that the club was basically a training facility for the navy officials and was established after securing approvals from the relevant quarters.

Justice Minallah remarked that the unauthorised constructions in the federal capital have destroyed the environment of the city. He termed it an irony that the state machinery was used for environmental degradation.

IHC CJ further said that every second petition explains the sorry state of affairs as it strengthen the perception that the law is spiders’ webs; they will catch, it is true, the weak and poor, but would be torn in pieces by the rich and powerful.

Advocate Ausaf submitted the reply from naval chief before the court.

He requested the court to allow repair and maintenance work of boats within the club’s premises.

Justice Minallah accepted his request but restrained the naval authorities to resume commercial activities in the sailing club till further orders.

The hearing in this matter has been adjourned till Sept 9.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2020