The Supreme Court of Pakistan has called for a commitment from the federal government to ensure that the armed forces exclusively focus on defense-related matters rather than engaging in commercial activities. Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, heading a three-judge bench, sought this assurance in a case examining the use of military lands for business purposes.

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The case was initiated in 2021 by former CJP Gulzar Ahmed, focusing on the alleged illegal use of cantonment board lands in Karachi, originally acquired for strategic purposes but utilized for commercial gains.

During the recent hearing, Justice Isa expressed regret over the establishment of marriage halls on military lands and requested assurance from Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan that the military would refrain from engaging in business activities.

“Can you get this assurance?” Justice Isa asked the attorney general, emphasizing the importance of each institution staying within its domain and working according to its mandate.

The attorney general acknowledged the principle that everyone should perform their designated roles.

During the proceedings, the counsel for the Evacuee’s Trust Property Board (ETPB) informed the court that the disputed building belonged to the board, and the individual to whom the land was allotted had sold it on fake papers. The court questioned the ETPB’s role during the construction of the building, suggesting an audit of the Karachi registry’s assets by the Federal Board of Revenue.