ISLAMABAD: The town planner who designed the Islamabad Master Plan divided the area included in the plan into different zones. These zones are distinguished from one another primarily by the use to which the area circumscribed under a particular zone can be utilised. Thus, there are residential zones, commercial zones, industrial zones and zones where no residential, commercial or industrial activity is permitted. Over the years, the Capital Development Authority (CDA), with the connivance of the political administrations, both military and civilian, have played havoc with the Islamabad Master Plan.
Right now, I shall not dwell on the consequences of the violations of the master plan. I want to draw attention to another very special and exclusive zone that the powers that-be have managed to create in Islamabad in the last few years. It neither has any legality nor was it envisaged in the master plan. What I have in mind is the informal but exclusive zone comprising sectors E-7 and E-8 that have been established by the Pakistan Navy and the Pakistan Air Force. Citizens not serving in the armed forces are not allowed to enter this zone as a matter of routine. Until one year ago, common citizens would be allowed to enter the area from designated entry points after depositing their CNICs, which they could retrieve at the time of exit. But this ‘facility’ was withdrawn.
The abovementioned so-called zone has been created in the name of security. Preventing common citizens from entering this zone is tantamount to violating their right of free movement guaranteed by the Constitution. Further, this adds to the alienation between the armed forces and common citizens. This is particularly so when the overall security situation of the country is far from ideal. People have now become aware that it is the taxpayers’ money that is being spent to provide security to only a special category of persons at the cost of leaving the majority “exposed” to dangers. The realisation is becoming strong that this is a blatantly unjust situation and should not be allowed to continue. It is time that those who control the decision-making apparatus do away with the discriminating security dispensations for the selected few. Before it is too late, let us institute inclusive security arrangements and do away with the exclusive arrangements which are in vogue at present.
Khalid Idrees
Published in The Express Tribune, March 19th, 2013.
