Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa asked the attorney general about the army’s commitment to focusing solely on defence matters and abstaining from commercial enterprises.
CJP remarked during a hearing concerning a petition challenging the conduct of commercial activities on military land. CJP Isa highlighted instances of the army engaging in commercial ventures, including operating marriage halls on military premises. He emphasized the army’s role as a “protector” and its need to refrain from business activities.
“Can you secure this confirmation?” CJP Isa asked the attorney general, stressing the importance of adhering to designated roles.
“The army should concentrate on its defence responsibilities, and the judiciary will fulfil its judicial duties,” CJP Isa stated.
Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan concurred that entities should stick to their prescribed roles.
Yet, CJP Isa pressed for a formal assurance from the AGP if such directives were available.
During the proceedings, a lawyer representing the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) intervened, noting that the ETPB owned the property. He revealed that the land was sold using fraudulent documents, resulting in the construction of a five-story building.
Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar observed that the ETPB did not intervene during construction.
CJP Isa speculated on the Sindh Building Control Authority’s (SBCA) complicity in this matter, suggesting an examination of assets for officers ranking above inspector within the SBCA.
Upon inquiry about the number of inspectors and officers in the department, the director general of the SCBA disclosed that the SCBA currently employs 1,400 individuals, including 600 building inspectors and 300 senior inspectors.
