The Supreme Court has ruled that the Ministry of Defense must compensate for leasing 3,413 acres of land. Despite the Defense Ministry’s attempt to avoid compensation after 50 years of occupation, the court dismissed their plea.
The acquisition process, initiated in 1977, faced delays due to the Defense Ministry’s incompetence. Landowners have long fought for their rights, struggling against this prolonged occupation.
In an 11-page judgment penned by Justice Shahid Waheed, the court found the Defense Ministry’s actions unacceptable. It stated that the government’s attempt to evade compensation through a 2019 notification was unjust to the landowners.
A three-member bench led by Justice Muneeb Akhtar rejected the land relinquishment, clarifying that the land was intended for acquisition under the Land Acquisition Act of 1894. Despite years of legal battles, the court’s 2018 judgment set compensation at Rs 12,000 per marla with additional charges.
The court emphasized that the landowners shouldn’t bear the burden alone. It noted that if the government or defense department lacked funds, they should have informed the landowners before taking possession. Ultimately, the court dismissed the defense ministry’s plea.
