The military’s claim to 8,000 acres of Margalla Hills National Park has been recently found unconstitutional by the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
According to IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah, the armed forces are not autonomous and are instead under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defence.
According to the chief justice, the navy had erected a golf course on encroached territory, which was not “a good thing.” “The military forces are respected by all citizens. If they do this (encroaching on state property), it will not send a good message,” stated Justice Minallah.
He added, “First and foremost, we must hold ourselves accountable. Due of lawlessness, the poor are trapped in poverty.”
“You admitted the golf course was illegal,” the judge said before ordering the defence secretary to turn over the golf course’s land to the CDA.
