SC rules no lease, no housing societies at Railway lands till next order

LAHORE: A Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar heard suo moto case on deficit in Pakistan Railways here on Monday.

Railways Minister Shaikh Rashid Ahmed appeared before a two-member bench in the case hearing.

The bench ruled that the railway land will not be used for establishing the housing societies or issued lease for it, till the next order of the court.

The court also called stay orders from all high courts and subordinate courts about the railway lands.

The judges remarked that the railway land owned by the department and only the railway could utilize these lands.

The bench also ordered removal of encroachments from the railway land in Chakwal and other areas. The bench remarked that the railways’ land is owned by the federal government and not the department.

The apex court summoned the owners of the Royal Palm Club in the next hearing of the case.

The bench adjourned the hearing till December 27.