Peshawar: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Law, Human Rights and Parliamentary Affairs Aftab Alam has directed that efforts to resolve the dispute over the construction of the Battagram Tehsil Complex and the ongoing legal issue with the District Bar Association Battagram be expedited through mutual consultation.
He said the provincial government would ensure completion of the public project by addressing the legitimate concerns of all stakeholders in accordance with the law.
A high-level review meeting, chaired by the provincial law minister, was held in Peshawar to examine the matter. MPA Munir Hussain Laghmani, Advocate General Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shah Faisal Utmankhel, Deputy Commissioner Battagram, representatives of the District Bar Association Battagram and other relevant officials attended the meeting.
The meeting reviewed in detail the recommendations of the special committee constituted on the directives of the Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the ongoing court proceedings, and the positions of the district administration and the bar.
The meeting was informed that the old Tehsil Office building in Battagram had been constructed in 1993 and was partially damaged in the 2005 earthquake. The provincial government approved a project in 2021 for construction of new tehsil complexes for Battagram and Allai at a total estimated cost of Rs170.994 million.
The old building was demolished in 2024. However, due to the non-availability of alternative government land, it was decided to construct the new complex at the same site.
Following the demolition, the District Bar Association Battagram approached various judicial forums. Construction work has remained suspended due to a stay order issued in a writ petition pending before the Abbottabad Bench of the Peshawar High Court.
The district administration informed the meeting that only 15 marlas of land was required for construction of the Tehsil Complex and that the required land was available at the site of the former Assistant Commissioner’s Office. It maintained that no alternative government land was available and warned that delays in the project were leading to a continuous increase in construction costs.
Representatives of the District Bar Association, meanwhile, apprised the meeting of their legal and administrative concerns regarding the selected site and use of the land. They stressed the need for a mutually acceptable solution through consultation among all stakeholders.
Speaking at the meeting, Minister Aftab Alam said the provincial government did not intend to harm the interests of any party. Rather, he said, its objective was to find an amicable and sustainable solution while keeping in view legal requirements and the legitimate concerns of all stakeholders.
He said that, on the directives of the Chief Minister, a special committee comprising the Advocate General, the local MPA and the provincial law minister had been constituted. The committee would finalise its recommendations after consulting all stakeholders.
Aftab Alam directed that the consultation process be completed at the earliest and that a consensus-based solution be presented before the High Court to pave the way for ending the legal dispute, addressing the concerns of all parties and resuming construction work on the Tehsil Complex.
The provincial law minister said unnecessary delays in projects of public importance would not be acceptable, as they not only caused difficulties for the people but also resulted in wastage of public resources and escalation in project costs.
He directed all relevant authorities to examine all available options for an early and lawful resolution of the matter and formulate workable recommendations through mutual consensus.
