Succumbing to pressure: Tariq Fazal stops civic agency from anti-encroachment drive in Blue Area

Traders had earlier warned of going on an indefinite strike against drive

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Minister for State Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhary on Tuesday stopped the Capital Development Authority (CDA) from conducting anti-encroachment drive in Blue Area.

Before issuance of these orders, the CDA has been involved in a vigorous operation against illegal constructions and other encroachments in the capital.

The CDA Encroachment Directorate was tasked to carry out a grand operation against encroachments in Blue Area as well where it demolished well over 50 illegal sheds and cabins.

The CDA anti-encroachment team led by director enforcement, Ishrat Taj Warsi conducted a campaign against 18 commercial plazas, which had encroached on the CDA’s land, raised illegal structures, cabins, washrooms and other encroachments. They faced stiff resistance from the traders who have strong political backing.

The anti-encroachment drive conducted by the CDA on the strong demand of parliamentarians and members of the business community, however came across a stumbling block when the minister for CADD, who also has the additional charge of the CDA, forced encroachment directorate to stop the operation.

Before the minister’s bid, the president All Traders Welfare Association Blue Area had said that the move to do away with the encroachments would invoke strong opposition by traders who threatened to go on an indefinite strike, if the CDA did not stop the operation.

Succumbing to the pressure exerted by the traders, Dr Chaudhary directed the CDA’s encroachment directorate to stop its operation in Blue Area.

The minister has asked the traders to form a two-member committee to hold dialogue with the CDA to resolve the issue.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 3^rd, 2016.