Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Maroof Afzal .PHOTO: cda.gov
“Closure of public passages is a criminal act. By not taking appropriate action, the CDA is committing contempt of court,” observed Justice Qazi Faez Isa, member of a three-judge bench headed by Justice Ijaz Afzal Khan that resumed hearing into the case on Tuesday.
While expressing his annoyance over CDA’s overall progress, Justice Isa said time and again directives had been issued but the authority seemed unmoved.
Capital Development Authority Maroof Chairman Maroof Afzal sought two weeks time from the court to take action on non-conforming use of land especially seven political parties and other government offices operating from residential units.
“It’s the last warning. Upon failure contempt proceedings will be initiated against the CDA chairman and other officers,” Justice Isa remarked.
The civic agency’s member planning and design Wasim Ahmad Khan informed the court that 66 housing units had been sealed so far as their owners had failed to remove the non-conforming use from their respective premises.
Khan informed that 123 owners of houses had also voluntarily closed businesses. Still there are 2,000 properties including offices of political parties, government and semi-government departments operating from residential units.
These include central secretariats of the ruling Pakistan PML-N, PPP, PML-Q, PTI, JI, and General Musharraf’s All-Pakistan Muslim League (APML).
While offices of NADRA, Inspector-General of Islamabad Police, IG Motorways, Anti-Narcotics Force, and FIA are also housed in residential areas in violation of the building byelaws.
The court observed that action was always taken against the poor while influentials were spared.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 23rd, 2015.
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