The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday reserved its verdict on the petitions filed against the naval farmhouses and a sailing club built in the federal capital, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Chief Justice (CJ) of the IHC Justice Athar Minallah will now pronounce the verdict in the case today (Friday, January 7). 

During the hearing when the CJ asked member Estate, Capital Development Authority (CDA) whether the department he was representing would issue an NOC to the IHC judges if they wanted to do any business, the member replied that no such permission could be granted if it was not sanctioned by the law.

Justice Minallah asked the member Estate whether the Navy’s sailing club was still sealed. “Yes it is,” replied the latter. 

The CJ again asked the CDA official what step the Authority would take if an NOC granted to any housing society stood cancelled. 

He replied that in that case the CDA would take the society into its possession. “We will also seal the management offices of illegal housing societies,” he responded.    

Justice Minallah then questioned, “In this case, will you lock up the naval headquarters as well?”

“If you receive a request for the issuance of an NOC either to an illegal housing society or a naval sailing club, you should throw away the petition right at the outset,” he remarked.

He expressed his annoyance as to why the Authority did not take any action against the construction activities taking place in the vicinity of Rawal Lake.

Reporter Ihtesham Kiani