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ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the federation to submit reply over cutting of trees from the areas of Margalla Hills National Park.
The court remarked that mafia was involved in trees cutting and stone crushing in buffer zone despite ban. A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Justice Mian Saqib Nisar comprising of Justice Maqbool Baqar and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain heard the suo moto notice case.
During the course of proceedings, Khyber Pakhtonkhwa (KP) director general minerals appeared before the court and submitted report. He stated that the provincial government had banned illegal crushing in light of the court directions. Justice Saqib asked KP chief secretary to submit an affidavit that there was no illegal crushing in the province.
Khyber Pakhtonkhwa’s additional advocate general said that the provincial government had constituted teams to check administrative and security measures on crushing plants. Justice Saqib remarked that courts did not intervene in administrative matters but it cannot allow violation of law. He remarked that the court could not allow stone crushing which caused environmental pollution.
He said that the apex court issued orders in this regard and it was duty of the government to implement court orders. Hearing a petition regarding issuing of No Objection Certificate for stone crushing in two blocks outside buffer zone of Margalla Hills, the court remarked that it was responsibility of the government to issue license for stone crushing and courts did not intervene in administrative matters.
Punjab’s additional advocate general informed the court that the provincial government had set up a buffer zone to protect Margalla Hills National Park where stone crushing was not allowed. Later, the court sought reply and adjourned hearing of the case till October 19.
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