ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday scrapped a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) project to build a cricket stadium in Shakarparian, handing over control of the site of the under-construction stadium to the Capital Development Authority (CDA).

A three-member SC bench headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar ruled that a cricket stadium could not be constructed in Shakarparian.

A CDA official who asked not to be named said that following the SC orders, the CDA assumed charge of the under-construction stadium site.

CDA assumes control of under-construction stadium; committee formed to restore site

CDA Member Planning Asad Mehboob Kayani told Dawn that the SC had ruled that a cricket stadium could not be built in Shakarparian since it is part of the National Park area.

He said that the court has also formed a four-member committee that will work to restore the site after taking various steps, such as starting a plantation campaign.

The committee consists of CDA Chairman Usman Bajwa, television anchor Hamid Mir, former secretary Roedad Khan – the petitioner in the SC case – and the director general of the Environmental Protection Agency.

CDA officials Dawn spoke to said the court also ordered the confiscation of Rs5 million that the PCB had deposited in CDA accounts for the stadium project. The funds will now be spent on the restoration of the site.

The PCB had wanted to construct a stadium on 35 acres in Shakarparian, which falls in Zone III of the capital. The CDA and PCB signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in this regard in 2012, but the CDA had decide it would not follow the memorandum last month because, it claimed, the PCB had not fulfilled the MoU’s terms and conditions.

An MoU was also signed for the construction of a stadium in 2008. The project was also shelved by the CDA because it said the PCB had not adhered to the MoU’s terms and conditions. The second agreement, signed in 2012, was signed in supersession of the first one.

The SC has been hearing a petition against the construction of the stadium filed by Mr Khan, who has said a stadium in Shakarparian would not be environmentally feasible.

Last month, the CDA submitted a report with the SC stating that it would not execute the project because the PCB had not followed the agreed upon terms and conditions.

The report stated: “CDA has decided not to execute the lease agreement as the PCB has failed to comply with the terms and condition of MoU.”

It said the PCB began felling trees and constructing a boundary wall after the MoU was signed without obtaining environmental clearance for the stadium. The CDA had stopped the PCB from continuing construction after SC orders to the effect in 2013.

The 2012 MoU had stated: “Stadium will be constructed in such a way that the area beneath the stadium could be used for commercial purposes. The resources so generated from sports events from this venue or from commercial area by PCB will be shared between CDA and PCB at the ratio of 30:70 respectively.”

Under their agreement, the PCB would ensure the stadium is completed within three years from the date of possession of the site.

Mr Kayani said the CDA decided not to execute the lease agreement with the PCB because the board had failed to comply with the terms and conditions under the MoU.

He said the CDA’s point of view was seconded by the SC, which scrapped the project.

Published in Dawn, June 8th, 2018