ISLAMABAD, Sept 22: The tunnel project is an assault on the Margallah Hills National Park (MHNP) and an unpopular decision made to facilitate land mafia. The decision to link Haripur to Islamabad is causing concern among environmentalists all over the country.

This was stated by former bureaucrat and president of the Margallah Hills Society (MHS), Roedad Khan, while speaking to the media after attending a meeting of the civil society.

The meeting, which was held at his residence in F-7/3 on Sunday, was attended by civil society activists Dr Dushka Syed, Wajahat Lateef, Aitzazuddin Ahmed, Ameer Usman and Afzal Qahot.

Roedad Khan said the MHNP was a gift of nature and an irreplaceable asset, but some elements were trying to destroy the beauty of the federal capital.

While talking to Dawn, Mr Khan said, “The tunnel project was first proposed by Gen (retired) Musharraf, a military dictator, in collusion with property tycoon Malik Riaz, but the MHS opposed it,” he said.

He added that Malik Riaz, during a live debate on a private channel, had stated that he had given a two-hour briefing to Mr Musharraf and a one-and-half hour briefing to the then premier Shaukat Aziz regarding the project.

According to Mr Khan, Malik Riaz had clearly said that he had the approval of Mr Musharraf and did not need the permission of the environmental protection agency.

“At that time, it was said that a new Islamabad will be constructed behind Margallah and now the government is claiming that the tunnel will open an economic corridor. I assume it is the same project because Malik Riaz never gives up. However, other land mafias may also be involved,” he said.

Roedad Khan said the Capital Development Authority (CDA) had informed the Supreme Court on March 29, 2012, that the project had been deferred and was not being considered anymore.

In response, the court said no further action was called for and the civil society thought the project was laid to rest permanently.

“But on August 23, 2013, at a meeting presided over by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, it was decided that the project will be initiated to link Islamabad with Haripur and provide a shorter route to commuters of Gilgit Baltistan, Mansehra and Abbottabad,” he said.

Roedad Khan, terming the project illegal, said: “It seems the tunnel project has not been considered by the planning commission or sanctioned by the Executive Committee of National Economic Council. Furthermore, it has not been approved by any higher authority including the Environment Division and the Environment Protection Agency.”

He said if the project was not checked and construction began straightaway, the Margallah Hills and Islamabad would be damaged beyond repair.

The MHS president further said that he had already sought the intervention of the Supreme Court of Pakistan on the issue.

He also thanked Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed for submitting a motion in the Senate and appealed to all citizens of Islamabad, environmentalists and media to oppose the project.

“We have done this before. We can do it again to save the Margallah Hills,” Roedad Khan said.

Ironically, Mr Nawaz Sharif had himself issued directives to conserve the national park when he was prime minister in 1991.

According to documents available with Dawn, Mr Sharif said: “I have received disturbing reports that the Margallah Hills National Park, established by the federal government on 18th April 1980 under Islamabad Wild Life Ordinance, has been exposed to activities which are prejudicial to its preservation as a national park area and are environmentally hazardous for Islamabad.”

Mr Nawaz Sharif had then instructed CDA to eliminate all such activities as were damaging the environment of the federal capital.