Supreme Court Criticizes Pakistan Army’s Involvement in Business Activities, Seeks Assurances of adherence to Defense Role

During a hearing of a case pertaining to commercial activities on military land, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa sought assurance from the attorney general that the army would restrict its focus to defense-related matters and refrain from engaging in business ventures. CJP Isa remarked on the army’s involvement in commercial activities, such as establishing marriage halls on military lands, and emphasized the importance of adhering to constitutional roles and responsibilities.
In response, the attorney general agreed with the principle that each institution should fulfill its designated role. However, CJP Isa insisted on obtaining a concrete assurance from the attorney general. The discussion then shifted to the role of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) and the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) in the construction of a building on disputed land. CJP Isa called for an audit of the assets of relevant officers and proposed that the proceeds from any assets beyond their means should be used to compensate the residents of demolished buildings.