Many illegal installations erected for security and other encroachment set up in front of different plazas were razed. PHOTO: FILE
Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar, on Monday, took suo motu notice of the alleged encroachment on public park F8 by lawyers who are constructing their chambers on the plot.
The chief justice while taking notice on print and social media has sought report from chairman of Capital Development Authority (CDA) within three days.
CDA cracks down on encroachment in Blue Area
Talking to The Express Tribune, Islamabad District Bar Association president Riasat Ali Azad said, "it is negligence of federal government and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) that no judicial complex has been established in capital since 1980."
"I believe if lawyers chambers have been constructed illegally then districts courts are also functioning illegally," he further added.
Azad said that being the president of the bar, he will face the suo motu proceedings in the apex court. He further informed that presently 4300 lawyers are members of Islamabad district bar.
People are crying foul after the all-powerful lawyer-lobby started encroaching on a football ground adjacent to Sector F-8 Kutcheri to build chambers.
The civic agency, which had mustered the courage to take stern action against encroachment by a mega-shopping mall in the city, seems to be powerless in dislodging encroachment by lawyers.
Nevertheless, for local residents and football players, the CDA and the Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICTA) are apparently acting as silent spectators.
The CDA, though, tried to stop the black coats from the encroachment and issued eviction orders. The lawyers, though, managed to win the court’s favour and secure a stay order against the notices.
Lawyers playing footsie with new chambers
“We have raised our voice on every forum but no one has heard us,” UC-28 Chairwoman Fauzia Arshad said. She added that they had written applications to the Islamabad Mayor Sheikh Anser Aziz, CDA Chairman Usman Bajwa, ICTA, director enforcement and other relevant officials, but none have taken an action thus far.
An official of the Islamabad administration said that it was the CDA’s responsibility to take action against encroachers and that it was likely to do so when the stay order expires.
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