Military lands should only be used for defence purpose: CJP

Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday has conducted hearing on a case pertaining to using military land for commercial use.

The Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed asked Defence Secretary retired Lt Gen Mian Mohammad Hilal Hussain to return the land to the government if any activity regarding defence is not being carried out on this area.

The CJP further asked about the action taken against the responsible people. Your army officials purchased the land and then sold it. How we can recover this area now, he asked from the secretary.

The CJP went on to state that all the Cantonment Board’s lands are facing the similar issue. A retired major had given the land of global marquee on lease, he told.

He further remarked that cinemas, petrol pumps, housing societies, shopping malls and wedding halls have been constructed on the land reserved for defence purpose.