Humayun Khan
PESHAWAR: A divisional bench comprising of Chief Justice Peshawar High Court Justice Qaiser Rashid and Justice Abdul Shakoor stopped construction works in Azakhail Botanical Garden while directed Deputy Commissioner and District Police Officer Nowshera to take control of the garden till further orders, on Wednesday.
Focal person in the case Additional Deputy Prosecutor General National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Muhammad Ali, Counsel for University of Peshawar Justice (retired) Abdul Sammad Khan, Wasim-u-Din Advocate and Assistant Registrar Legal Riaz Ali Khan appeared before court. During hearing Chief Justice Qaiser Rashid remarked that district administration has destroyed botanical garden established for international standard research.
The counsel Muhammad Ali Advocate informed that inquired report has been submitted before and added it is revealed that Azakhail botanical garden has been damaged while public had stolen bricks of the laboratories. Chief Justice inquired that how district administration has cancelled lease of botanical garden and added after establishment International Standard Institute unfortunately it is destroyed while Nabs’ prosecutor informed that the inquiry has conducted on the directions of court.
NAB’s prosecutor and focal person in the case informed that inquiry report disclosed that several departments had oppose the cancellation of lease but district administration cancelled the lease on orders of former Chief Minister and provided the land to Air University.
During hearing also inquired that how can district administration take such actions? While NAB’s prosecutor informed that government is supposed to protect the botanical garden under international conventions.
The focal person further informed that Director Botanical Garden Asadullah has approached Azakhail police station for registration of FIR but to no veil while obtaining the 498 Kanal of garden by force had damaged the infrastructure in the premises.
The focal person added that accordance to arrangement between University of Peshawar and district administration does not cancellation of lease at any step and added that on 10 March 2022 NAB’s team visited the spot while found that infrastructure on 83 acres have been damaged including door and widows were also stolen.
According to inquiry report the condition of botanical garden is deteriorating condition while there is no essence of Air University the lease was cancelled on the will of few high-ups which had led to damaging of the garden and added that observations of PHC become true during the inquiry.
NAB’s prosecutor argued PHC that if court issuing further directions in the matter then the bureau shall further continue proceeding of the case. It is worthy to note that NAB has conducted inquiry on Azakhail botanical garden on the directions of Peshawar High Court.
