SC bans construction of housing societies on railways land

The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday restricted construction of housing societies on land belonging to Pakistan Railways and the court also seized control of a private club built illegally on railway land.

A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar, heard the case at the apex court’s Lahore registry. Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed and authorities of the club were also present in court.

The court instructed an audit company to appoint new management for the club and barred the old management from entering the club. The court also ordered the audit company to seize all records of the club.

Justice Nisar stated that the court was placing a restriction on constructing housing societies and also restricted giving out railway land for lease for more than three years. Mr. Shiekh Rasheed, railways minister added that, “We have given 25 days’ notice to people occupying Karachi Circular Railways (KCR) land to look for alternative lands”.