PESHAWAR, Oct 18: Showing anger over long delay in completion of development work in Peshawar’s Regi Model Town, the Peshawar High Court on Tuesday directed the provincial government to swiftly get the land vacated from illegal occupants, pay compensation to genuine landowners and complete the project.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Dost Mohammad Khan and Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth also observed that in case the government failed to show any progress in the issue it would consider ordering provision of damages to those allotted plots.

The court directed the provincial chief secretary to convene a meeting of the inspectors general of police and Frontier Corps and commandant of Frontier Constabulary and submit within two month their proposals for improving the security situation so that the development work could be completed in the Regi area. It observed that different mafias were involved in this project due to which it could not be completed for the last two decades.

Hearing the petition filed by plot owners of the town against delay in completion of the project, the bench observed that the Peshawar Development Authority (PDA) had not fulfilled its responsibility in carrying out development work in the township.

The bench fixed Nov 11 for next hearing with the direction that the government should make arrangements for setting up joint checkposts of police and Frontier Constabulary to keep an eye on anti-social elements.

Advocate Arshid Khan appeared for the PDA and said that development work was in progress in zones 3 and 4. However, he contented that work could not be carried out in zones 2 and 5, as presently it was a ‘no-go area’ due to security reasons. The township is situated in close proximity of the tribal area.

During the proceedings, Justice Dost Mohammad observed that the government should wind up the PDA if it was not capable of completing the development work in Regi town.

BAIL CANCELLED: The high court on Tuesday cancelled the bail granted to a man by a subordinate court in case of killing his wife and ordered his arrest in the courtroom.

A single bench comprising Justice Shahjehan Khan Yousafzai accepted a bail cancellation petition filed by the complainant in the case, Zafrullah Khan, who is father of the deceased woman, Ms Aliya.

Advocate Nasrun Minallah appeared for the petitioner and stated that the accused, Mohammad Haneef, had allegedly killed his wife on July 24, 2008, in the jurisdiction of Chamkani police station. He said that afterwards the accused escaped and remained absconder for around three years.

The petitioner argued that during his absence two of his relatives, Ziarat Gul and Hayat Khan, testified that he had strained relations with his wife and they saw him firing at her. He added that the accused was arrested after his pre-arrest bail was dismissed.

Mr Minallah said that the two witnesses later retracted their statement under pressure from the accused. He argued that on the same ground the court of additional district and sessions judge granted bail to the accused in April 2011, which was erroneous on part of the court.