CJP stops construction of Shakarparian cricket stadium within limits of national park

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar has said that the court will not allow anyone to construct a cricket stadium in Shakarparian within the limits of the Islamabad national park.

This he said while hearing a case on Friday. CJP  Saqib Nisar headed a three-member and heard a petition filed by former  secretary Roedad Khan and requested the court to stop the construction of cricket stadium in Sharkarparian and termed it anti-environment.

The petitioner Roedad Khan informed the court that some influential people have been given the authority to chop down trees to construct the stadium.

During the hearing, CJP Nisar remarked that cricket stadium will not be allowed to construct within the limits of the national park.

Additional Attorney General Rana Waqar informed the court that the land allotted for the cricket ground falls within the limits of Shakarparian National Park and adding that Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had asked for 48 acres of land in 2008 for the construction of the ground.

He added that Captial Development Authority (CDA) had stopped construction of the ground after 2013 and adding that they did not even have a deal with PCB.

Supreme Court had summoned CDA Chairman Usman Bajwa, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Najam Sethi and Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) secretary for today’s hearing.

Najam Sethi assured that PCB aims to be environmentally friendly and will not construct a ground there if it falls within the park’s limits and will return the land if it falls within park limits.

CJP directed CDA to establish whether the land allotted falls within the park’s limits and adjourned the hearing for two weeks.

The court also maintained its order halting construction of the ground.