Illegally constructed buildings: Drive selling out to political pressure?

Plans to demolish illegally-built commercial plazas in Rawalpindi abandoned.

RAWALPINDI:

After halting its anti-encroachment campaign due to alleged lack of cooperation by higher officials, Rawal Town administration has begun legalising the status of illegally constructed plazas.

Sources inside the administration confided to The Express Tribune that plans to demolish the buildings were abandoned because of political pressure on behalf of parliamentarians belonging to the opposition Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N).

PML-N member of the National Assembly Malik Shakeel Awan, however, denied that impression, saying that no party member had used political pressure. However, he admitted, “We did suggest that they (administration) legalise the plazas that had already been constructed instead of putting the investment to waste.”

The majority of the illegally constructed plazas had been built in violation of building codes and by-laws. During its anti-encroachment drive, the provincial government razed several such commercial plazas in Lahore, later extending the effort to other cities, including Rawalpindi.

Earlier, former Rawal Town Administrator Arshad Waraich sealed 12 multi-storey plazas and other commercial buildings that had violated approved building plans with floors and basements being in excess of prescribed limits. After sealing, investors were told not to hire shops in these plazas. Subsequently, Waraich was notified that his rank had been changed from Rawal Town Administrator to Officer on Special Duty. This effectively relieved him of the responsibility to seal and prosecute illegal plazas.

The sealed buildings were located in Raja Bazaar, Bara Market, Benazir Bhutto Road, Iqbal Road, Liaquat Road, Saidpur Road, City Saddar Road and Mochi Bazaar. A top official of the Town Municipal Administration told The Express Tribune that the Rawalpindi district administration failed to extend cooperation in this regard and the required police force was not deployed for the operation. “With the available resources, we could only launch operations against vendors and push-carters,” he claimed.

Commercial activities in the plazas continue.  Farooq Corporation, Shakil Corporation, Malikabad Shopping Mall, Friends Corporation, Nayab Marriage Hall, Aries Tower and chemist shops are just some of the places that were supposed to be demolished.

Town Officer Regulation Malik Tausif Ahmad said that the machinery and equipment required to take enforcing action were not provided to the administration. “Despite numerous requests, the City Police Officer did not provide us with the required police force to take action against the big guns,” he complained.

Rawalpindi Commissioner Zahid Saeed claimed that the administration was not creating hurdles. He said that the complete demolition of illegal plazas was unnecessary. “We want to compel the owners to obey codes and by-laws by reserving parking lots and abandoning unauthorised floors,” he said.

Responding to a question, he said building code violations could be dealt with by fining the buildings’ owners.

Awan remained defiant, asking, “Why did TMA not take notice of the plazas when they were being built?” “It is unwise to raze multi-million rupee plazas when revenue can be generated by regulating them,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 11^th,  2011.