Islamabad: 28 March 2023 – Pakistan Bar Council has expressed serious concern over the “Purported” allotment of agricultural land in different districts of Punjab to Pakistan Army. PBC has called upon the Gov of Pakistan to withdraw the notification or it will be challenged in the court of law. GoP allotted 45267 Acres of agri land to Army on 10 March 2023 and the purpose of the allotment is not known, either it will be used for agriculture or for construction. A notification by the General Headquarters Land Directorate has been issued according to PBC and the same is viral on social media.
Mr. Haroon ur Rasheed Vice Chairman and Mr. Hassan Raza Pasha Chairman Executive Committee of PBC released a written statement on 27 March in which they said, ” This illegal practice of donating out the public resources to the army is neither justified nor acceptable to the people of Pakistan.”
Therefore, they have demanded that the purported notification be withdrawn immediately and warned , “In case of failure to withdraw the illegal notification, the Pakistan Bar Council shall file appropriate petition before the competent court of law according to law and constitution of Pakistan.”
Here it is worth mentioning that Pakistan Army holds agricultural lands as well as lands for defense and administration offices and residences purpose in different sensitive territories and cities of Pakistan including provincial headquarters and twin cities of Rawalpindi Islamabad. This is quite essential for their service to the defense of the motherland.
Objections are raised only when the rumors are spread about the use of agri lands for housing schemes only. Defense Housing Authority is the main victim of criticism in this regard. DHAs in all important cities give a ground to the critics. In this latest case of “purported allotment” , the objections find the base only because neither the GoP nor the concerned Military department have clarified 1- The allotment is confirmed? 2- What is the purpose of the allotment?
Both, GoP and Military are supposed to come forward to clear the matter in the best interest of the Armed Forces and the public before it becomes another confrontation between the lawyer community and the military as we have already seen in the history in restoration of judiciary movement.
Tazeen Akhtar 
