Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed jeered at the defence secretary on Friday, over commercial use of military land.
The CJP asked the government official whether cinemas and wedding halls were built for defence purposes.
It is pertinent to note that earlier today, a three-judge bench headed by the chief justice and comprising Justice Qazi Mohammad Amin Ahmed and Justice Ijazul Ahsan was hearing the issue of military lands being used for commercial purposes at the Supreme Court’s Karachi registry.
The Defence Secretary retired Lt Gen Mian Mohammad Hilal Hussain was asked by the CJP about the activities being conducted on military lands.
“This land was given to you for strategic and defence [purposes and yet] you have started commercial activities on it,” he stated.
“Were wedding halls, cinemas and housing societies built for defence purposes?” CJP Ahmed added.
“We have decided that this will not happen again,” the defence secretary said, adding that the construction of housing societies and commercial use of military land would be checked and stopped.
The CJP went on to comment that colonels and majors were acting like kings.
“What the colonels and majors desire, happens,” he stated.
“Go and tell all the chiefs [of the armed forces] that the land meant for defence purposes will not be used for commercial objectives. Go to all the military cantonments and tell them the land will be used only for strategic purposes,” CJP Ahmed gave directive to the defence secretary.
The bench asked Hussain whether he had a written report regarding the matter, at which the secretary requested more time to submit the same.
The CJP further stated that commercial activities were underway at Masroor Base and Faisal Base and tall buildings had been erected when orders were given to remove signboards.
Earlier on Wednesday, the CJP had stated that the conversion of cantonment land into private land seemed to be in direct contravention of the Cantonment Act, 1924, Cantonment Land Rules, 1937, and various constitutional provisions and the issue needed to be heard and decided by the court.
It is pertinent to note that the bench had expressed resentment over director cantonment and military land, Karachi region, Adil Rafi Siddiqui, over such activities within the jurisdiction of cantonment boards and also sought a report from him about a wall being built on the premises of a park in Defence Housing Authority Phase-I.
The court has adjourned the hearing until November 30.
