Islamabad: (Right Now News) The Supreme Court has clarified that the government can forcibly acquire property without the owner’s consent. The court stated that acquiring land for public interest is a state prerogative, but this power is not absolute.

The court’s decision emphasized that Articles 23 and 24 of the Constitution regulate this authority. Property owners should receive gold for gold, not copper for gold.

The Supreme Court stated that the property’s price should be determined based on market value and future development. Any delay should include price increases in the compensation.

This decision was written by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar. The court upheld the Peshawar High Court’s decisions in favor of landowners, maintaining their rights.

It is noteworthy that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had appealed against the compensation for land acquired for a canal project, which the Supreme Court dismissed.