Nonconforming use: CDA likely to seal Sir Syed Memorial Complex

Organisation was operating a commercial educational institute

ISLAMABAD: Days after the Islamabad High Court threw out petitions from several businesses in the federal capital against notices for nonconforming use, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) is planning to seal the Sir Syed Memorial Complex for violating building by-laws and CDA rules.

The complex, located in in Sector G-5/1, was allotted land to construct an auditorium, a library, a reading room and a museum. Instead, fully- fledged university by the name of Centre for Advanced Studies in Engineering (Case) was established on the premises. Another private organisation known as CARE was running its offices on the premises.

Sources in CDA’s Building Control Section (BCS) having information of the matter told The Express Tribune that the authority had issued several notices to the Sir Syed Memorial Society (SSMS) to bring the complex in line with the rules since 2011 but the society had failed to take any action in this regard.

The matter, however, was further delayed after a stay order issued by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in favour of SSMS and occupants of Sir Syed Memorial Complex. The stay order, however, expired in May this year but the CDA waited before initiating immediate action. On May 9, 2016, CDA again issued a noticed to SSMS directing them to shut down Case.

The Aligarh Old Boys Association in Islamabad formed the SSMS society in 1984 as a tribute to Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, the great education reformist, of the Sub-continent of the 19th century. Consequently, the CDA later allotted plot measuring 24 kanals on Ataturk Avenue in G-5/1 to the society.

In 2000, the society rented out a portion of the building to Case, a commercial degree awarding institution affiliated with the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) in Taxila. The society is being run by a 15-member executive committee, which includes seven people from Case while a retired Brigadier, Iqbal Shafi, is its president.

Internal squabbling between some employees and the committee brought disrepute to the society and attracted the attention of the city’s district administration.

The Islamabad administration on April 4, 2016, sealed some of the society’s offices, suspended the executive committee and appointed a caretaker body under ICT finance director to run the society’s affairs.

The society was served a final notice and given 15 days to abide by their instructions and remove the non-conforming use or the CDA would seal the premises and may even cancel the plot allotment.

CDA Building Control Section Director Shafi Marwat said the authority would act if the nonconforming use of the property did not end.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 25^th, 2016.