Gambling in guest houses: CDA admits inability to take action against influential owners

SC seeks a report from capital police regarding actions against the illegal activity

ISLAMABAD: The city’s civic agency, which is quick to demolish shelter of the poor, has admitted before the country’s top court its inability to take action against powerful and influential people.

The counsel for the Capital Development Authority (CDA), Shahid Hamid, on Tuesday informed a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed, that guest houses in residential areas are being used for gambling.

The bench is hearing a suo motu case regarding non-conforming use of residential units in the capital.

“Some of the capital police officers are backing gambling,” the counsel revealed adding that alcohol is also being served in 80 per cent of the guest houses.

Justice Azmat Saeed Sheikh remarked that it is the duty of the police to curb illegal activities and the crime in the city.

The court sought a report from the capital police regarding action taken against illegal activities in guest houses.

The bench also summoned the Capital Administration and Development Division secretary regarding the shifting of schools from the residential areas.

During the hearing, the CDA’s lawyer stated that the civic agency is also planning to take action against hospitals which are functioning in residential areas.

He also submitted that a campaign to seal guest houses was launched on June 8, which prompted a protest by the Guest Houses’ Association. They also staged a protest demo outside the CDA head offices, creating a law-and-order situation.

They also demanded that the operation be stopped in the month of Ramzan, to which the CDA relented.



The counsel further said that some of the guest houses got stay orders against the CDA’s operation.

The assistance of the Islamabad Police will be required for sealing guest houses wherein stay orders had not been granted.

Relocation of schools

In April, the civic agency had submitted a report to the apex court stating that over 350 schools are functioning in the residential areas, with total enrolment of around 90,000 students.

According to the report, a committee was constituted on March 15 to propose a detailed working plan for the relocation of private educational institutes operating in residential areas.

Hamid also informed the court that out of 31 premises, 18 guest houses have been vacated, adding that prime minister secretariat has approved the shifting of the remaining government offices from residential areas.

The bench allowed the CDA to seal all government offices except for the Federal Ombudsman for Protection against Harassment at the Workplace, and South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) offices, both of which are situated in residential areas. The hearing was adjourned till September 27.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 29^th, 2016.