CJ: Citizen didn’t demand concrete but needs public’s parks

Humayun Khan

PESHAWAR: Chief Justice Peshawar High Court (PHC) Justice Qaiser Rashid observed that establishment of parks are the need of Peshawar and its citizens to take breath in clean air neither needs more concrete buildings while remarked that conversion of public parks shouldn’t be allowed to commercial areas.

This was observed by CJ PHC Justice Qaiser while hearing Fazal Hanif petition in which Amin-ur-Rehman Yousafzai and Amir Javeed Advocates appeared on behalf of petitioner and Peshawar Development Authority (PDA) respectively.

During hearing Chief Justice Qaiser Rashid ordered PDA’s authorities to ensure in written that parks property should only be utilized for public’s park. He remarked that PDA should neither convert park’s land to commercial nor to establish Sunday Bazaars on the garden’s estate.

The counsel Amin-ur-Rehman Yousafzai Advocate informed that Sunday Bazaar was established on park’s land at Regi Model Town which was demolished after court’s intervention and added that the situation demands permanent solution into the issue.

In the meantime, Chief Justice PHC remarked that court should direct PDA to resolve the issue on permanent basis while PDA’s lawyer informed that seven parks have been completed out of 14 at Regi Model Town and remaining should be completed soon.

PDA’s lawyer Amir Javeed further added that Hayatabad Sunday Bazaar was established on land Civic center as per 1992 maps and argued that 188 Kanals land is acquired for Sunday Bazaar at Ring Road while PDA will utilize spare land. He added that PDA also shifted SOS village Phase-5 Hayatabad.

Chief Justice Qaiser Rashid remarked that we cannot afford further concrete because people need public parks to breath in clean air and added that parks must provide entertain to citizens. Chief Justice PHC Justice Qaiser Rashid ordered concerned lawyers to take written oath from PDA that Park’s land should only be utilized for public’s parks and it shouldn’t be converted to commercial areas.