ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah on Monday ruled ministries and the government departments cannot indulge in real estate businesses as it would be considered a clash of interests.
The court was hearing a case in Islamabad against the real estate business conducted by the ministries and the institutions working under them.
It asked the attorney general to complete his arguments in this case till the next hearing so that the court could announce its judgement.
The court wondered whether the government-controlled institutions could directly or indirectly conduct some business or not. Isn’t it the clash of interests, it asked?
Deputy Attorney General Syed Tayyab Shah informed the court that complying with its order, he would send a summary regarding this matter to the cabinet this week.
The IHC chief justice rebuked the DAG saying why the government did not do things on its own. Why the court always has to pass an order, he added.
Justice Minallah said the court would decide the case according to law. He said while deciding on the criminal appeals, it emerged that the state itself gave protection to the criminals. He stated that the state itself was involved in crimes.
The court reminded the deputy AG that the matter involved basic human rights.
After that, the court adjourned the case until January 17.
