IHC forms committee to tackle encroachment in capital

CDA submits report of actions taken against shopping mall, banks, state entities

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has constituted a committee to come up with a comprehensive strategy to deal with encroachment in the capital.

The five-member committee, constituted by IHC Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, will be headed by Capital Development Authority (CDA) Member Estate Khushhaal Khan. Other members include Additional Deputy Commissioner Capt (retd) Shoaib Ali, SSP Operations, Director Enforcement and Area Magistrate of ICT.

This panel will devise a comprehensive strategy to deal with encroachment in the capital.

On Tuesday, Justice Siddiqui had resumed hearing a petition, filed by the Transport Owners and Passengers’ Welfare Association, against the illegal bus stands and other encroachment operating on green belts at Faizabad with permission from CDA on Tuesday.

CDA Legal Advisor Kashif Ali Malik also submitted a report on behalf of the authority which states that the layout plan (LOP) for construction of National Bus Terminal in Sector I-11/4 would be finalised in the first week of November and its summary would be presented to the CDA Board for approval at its next meeting.

Regarding CDA’s on-going operation against encroachment, the report states that operations were being carried out without any discrimination and action was being taken against big encroachers for the first time.

The report added that in this connection, the Land Survey Department of Planning Wing demarcated land of Centaurus Mall. During the demarcation it was revealed that the mall had established its car park on state land.

To remove these encroachment, a series of operations had been conducted against the shopping mall on Jinnah Avenue.

The report further states that over the past week, an operation was conducted in which two entry points, with sheds, were demolished whereas a guard post and illegally erected fence and iron grill on public footpath were also removed.

The court was told that another operation against encroachment in Centuraurs Mall was conducted last Tuesday and staff of Enforcement Directorate removed barriers, iron grills and adjacent wall from the main entry point of Centaurus Mall. However, the operation was stopped on the assurance of mall administration that they would remove encroachment themselves.

The CDA further said that security barriers were installed illegally on the main Jinnah Avenue in front of some bank buildings. During this operation, a security fence installed in front of Green Tower and security cabins constructed in-front of the OGDCL building were removed.

Moreover, report stated that in the past week the CDA’s Enforcement Directorate cracked down on illegal bus stands operating on green belts near Faizabad. During this operation, the Murree Hill Tourist Transport Adda was completely dismantled with the help of heavy machinery and the site was handed over to Environment Wing for plantation and landscaping. Meanwhile, encroachment around Al-Hateem Hotel were also razed.

The court appreciated CDA’s Director Encroachment Taj Warsi and observed that there were at least few people in CDA who were working with honesty and dedication for betterment of the city.

The court directed that CDA Director Complaint Cell Hassan Rizvi will hear complaints against encroachment from the public and would forward these complains to CDA encroachment directorate as well as to IHC for appropriate action.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 25^th, 2017.