Court throws out CDA report on illegal kiosk

Admin DG summoned to prove claim that a clerk made illegal property transfer.


Obaid Abbasi February 19, 2013
Admin DG summoned to prove claim that a clerk made illegal property transfer. PHOTO: FILE.

ISLAMABAD:


The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday rejected the findings of a report submitted by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) on the transfer of a kiosk in Sector F-7 to the interior minister’s brother.


After rejecting the report submitted by the CDA’s lawyer, IHC Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui summoned CDA Administration Director General Muhammad Laiq Yousafzai in person on Tuesday (today).

On February 2, city managers had admitted before the court that the kiosk was illegally transferred to a sister-in-law of Rehman Malik in violation of CDA bylaws and claimed that the then-chairman had treated it as a special case and allowed the transfer. Justice Siddiqui expressed serious concerns and directed CDA officials to submit a complete report on February 18.

During the course of hearing on Monday, CDA lawyer Nazir Jawad submitted a report of the inquiry conducted by the Administration DG, which said the kiosk was transferred to Malik’s sister-in-law by a clerk who is now retired.

Justice Siddiqui observed that the CDA is trying to save the skins of big fish by pinning responsibility on clerical staff. “How can low-cadre employees do illegal work without the involvement of high-ups?” he remarked.



The court observed that it is impossible that the illegal act was done by the clerk alone and rejected the report.

Last year, Justice Siddiqui took up a petition filed by resident of sector F-7 who sought the removal of the illegal kiosk from Shalimar Park in F-7. Later, the CDA revealed that the kiosk was owned by Khalid Malik, the brother of interior minister.

Brig (retd) Javed Iqbal petition dismissed

The same bench dismissed a petition filed by former National Crisis Management Cell (NCMC) director general Brigadier (retd) Javed Iqbal Cheema seeking the removal of his name from the Exit Control List (ECL).

Citing the Ministry of Interior as a respondent, Cheema maintained that the Interior Ministry had placed his name on the ECL on April 18, 2010. Cheema was also a spokesperson for the ministry when former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated. He maintained that his wife has liver cancer and he wants to take her abroad for medical treatment.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 19th, 2013.

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